By Fatma Younis
Spanish long jumper Julieta Gallego was among at least 69 people killed when two high-speed trains collided in Toledo province on Wednesday. The 24-year-old athlete competed for Madrid-based club AD Sprint and held a personal best of 5.90 metres, set in Antequera in 2023.
Federation Mourns Athlete
The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) expressed its condolences on Thursday, stating that the Spanish athletics family joins in grief over Gallego's passing. RFEA president Raul Chapado told newspaper ABC that the sport mourns a life unjustly extinguished.
Former Minister Also Killed
Former Spanish employment and social security minister Fátima Báñez, who served from 2011 to 2018, also died in the collision. Her death was confirmed by the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), which she chaired.
Crash Details
The crash occurred just after 9 a.m. between the towns of Mora and Orgaz near Toledo. A total of 544 people were travelling on the two trains, which derailed several carriages. More than 100 people were injured, and the search for survivors continued on Thursday.
Second Deadly Incident on Line
This was the second fatal accident in less than a year on the line connecting Madrid to southern Andalusia. Aerial footage showed twisted metal and wreckage strewn across an embankment beneath an elevated track section.
