Deadly Train 'Accident' in Ankara: 3 Contradictory Statements in 2 Hours

* Photograph: Doğan Keskinkılıç - Ankara/AA

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A high speed train has crashed into another train in the capital city of Ankara, leaving nine people dead and 47 people wounded. Three of the deceased were the drivers of the train.

The train was reportedly going around at 90 km/h when it crashed into a guiding train, which was carrying out track inspections. Two cars of the high speed train derailed after the collision, crashing into abutment of a footbridge. The footbridge collapsed onto the cars.

Governor of Ankara, Vasip Şahin, said in a verbal statement to the journalists that the high speed train, which left Ankara terminal at 06:30 for Konya, crashed into a guiding train which was on the same rail.

As stated by Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Cahit Turan, as of 11.14 a.m. today (December 13), nine people, three of whom were the drivers of the train, have lost their lives and 47 people have been wounded.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said the guiding train should not be on the rail, where the collision took place. Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the incident.

Commuter train, guiding train or footbridge?

After the incident, state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the high speed train crashed into a footbridge.

While people on social media were questioning how can a train crash into a footbridge, Governor of Ankara made the first statement regarding the incident: "The train crashed into a commuter train, not a footbridge."

The Governor was corrected by the Ministry of Transportation, which stated the high speed train crashed into a guiding train. According to the statement, two cars of the high speed train derailed after the collision, crashing into abutment of a footbridge. The footbridge collapsed onto the cars.

Minister of Transportation: No wounded under debris

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Cahit Turan said the following in a verbal statement to journalists:

"The train and the locomotive crashed head to head. According to the findings made on the scene of the incident, three machinist colleagues and five citizens of ours have lost their lives.

"48 passengers were sent to hospital, one of them, unfortunately, lost his/her life there. In total, nine citizens lost their lives.

"I wish that our 47 citizens, who are under treatment at hospitals, will get well soon. There are no wounded under debris." (EKN/VK)