Large funeral to be held for Spain train victims

remains of the train

A large funeral service will be held in the city of Santiago de Compostela near the site of the train crash. Several dignitaries will attend including the Prime minster Marian Rajoy and members of the royal family. Three days of national mourning were declared after the crash and the funeral service will be the climax of the period.
Several other services are expected in the US and Canada which had their folks on board.

The accident left 80 people dead and several injured. The 70 injured are still admitted in hospitals with 22 in critical condition. The tragedy shocked many and led to cancellation of the St James festivities.

Meanwhile the embattled driver if the train that crashed, Francisco Jose Garzon Amo was released from detention on Sunday. He was charged with several homicide charges. The driver sustained minor injuries and was since arrested and questioned by both Police and the judge responsible.

Driver questioned

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, aged 52, was presented in court handcuffed on Sunday morning. He was quizzed behind closed doors for close to two hours by Judge Luis Alaez.

Train driver dragged by Police cops

A court statement released indicated that, he had been released pending further investigations but must report in court weekly. He is also not allowed to leave Spain without permission the statement added.

He surrendered both his passport has and his driving permit momentarily revoked.

Officials had earlier indicated that the Spanish driver had admitted negligence by being careless when rounding a curve too fast. It has also been suggested the train was travelling at 190 km/h as he rounded the bend, a speed that was more than double the limit.

All the cabins went off the track in one of the worst train accidents in Spain.