Passenger train fatally strikes young woman on tracks near Riga

A passenger train fatally injured a young woman on Monday evening on the Riga–Jelgava railway line, between the "Tīraine" and "Turība" stops near Latvia's capital. She died at the scene. The State Police have opened a criminal case over the incident.

How the incident unfolded

According to the TV3 programme "Degpunktā", the accident happened at around 11 p.m. The last passenger train of the day was travelling from Jelgava to Riga. In the dark, the driver noticed a person on the tracks in a place where people are not allowed.

Dace Zaldāte-Rozentāle, a spokesperson for the passenger rail operator "Vivi", told the programme that the driver immediately sounded warning signals and applied emergency braking. However, given the train's braking distance, a collision could no longer be avoided. The young woman died of her injuries at the scene.

What is known about the victim

The State Police have not yet officially disclosed the victim's identity or exact age. Unofficially, it has been reported that the victim was a 15-year-old girl, but this has not been officially confirmed.

The investigation continues, and within the criminal case the police will assess the circumstances of the accident.