Spain's Transport Minister Resigns After 115 Fatalities in Two Train Crashes
With a general election less than a month away, the government faces intense pressure to explain the safety failures at Adamuz and Urda.
By Ethan Mitchell ·
Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, announced his resignation on Tuesday evening. He cited the toll of two recent high-speed rail disasters, stating that neither the country nor he could bear 100 deaths in less than a year. The resignation comes as political tension rises ahead of a snap general election scheduled for next month.
Puente stepped down following a collision on Wednesday at 8:53 a.m. on the outskirts of Urda in Castilla-La Mancha. A Renfe high-speed train struck the rear of a stationary Iryo train. Sixty-nine people died and more than 100 were injured in the crash. This was the second fatal accident on the Madrid to Seville line in nine months.
The first disaster occurred on January 18 near Adamuz in Andalusia. An Iryo train derailed and was subsequently hit by a Renfe train traveling in the opposite direction. That accident killed 46 people and injured dozens of others. In total, 115 people have died in the two incidents.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledged the political fallout, stating that public trust in the high-speed system has been broken. His critics argue that his administration has had eight years to invest in rail safety. The opposition People’s Party leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, accused the government of failing to keep citizens safe and attempting to use the tragedy for political gain. He said on Monday, “It’s not just obvious that they’re not good at being in charge. It’s that I’m also not sure that they’re good people, either.”
The far-right Vox party has taken a harsher stance, accusing the government of killing the victims through incompetence and corruption. The party is urging the Supreme Court to investigate Puente for manslaughter and gross negligence. Puente rejected claims of mismanagement, insisting the railway system remains safe and reliable.
Survivors and families are still dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath. Austin Hartman, a student at Cal Poly State University, was pulled from the wreckage in Urda by Josimar Medina. Hartman is being treated in a Spanish hospital for multiple fractures to his pelvis, hip, femur, humerus, and rib. His family reported he is unlikely to return home for at least two months. GoFundMe pages have been created for Hartman and his friend Leah Silver-Fajardo, who was also badly hurt.
Hartman’s stepmother, Sandi, confirmed via email that her son video called Medina and his girlfriend Vitoria Maia to express gratitude. She noted that Hartman credits Medina with saving his life. The family hopes the connection formed in the aftermath provides some solace during the long recovery process.
