World · Europe · 13 hrs ago
Husband recalls hours of waiting after his wife died in Urda train crash
Carmen de Santa Ana died in the Urda train crash after boarding an AVE train on 28 October.
The 66-year-old was travelling in carriage seven when the train collided with an Iryo train.
Her husband, Javier Barrio, tried repeatedly to reach her and sent a WhatsApp message asking her to reply.
Their sons travelled to meet him as the family sought information about Carmen.
The family waited at support centres in Urda and Consuegra while emergency teams and volunteers worked and officials gathered information.
They were later told to go to Toledo to report her missing and provide DNA samples.
The hours of confusion left the family hoping she was alive until they received confirmation that she had died.
Javier Barrio recalls waiting for hours with his sons for news after his wife, Carmen de Santa Ana, died in the Urda train crash.
Carmen, 66, was travelling on an AVE train that collided with an Iryo train in Urda.
She had said goodbye to her husband in Madrid before boarding on 28 October.
Barrio sent her a WhatsApp message at 10 a.m. and made repeated attempts to reach her.
At 3 p.m., the Civil Guard told the family to report her missing in Toledo and provide DNA samples.
- Who
- Carmen de Santa Ana, 66, died in the crash. Her husband, Javier Barrio, recounted the wait for news with their sons.
- What
- An AVE train carrying Carmen collided with an Iryo train in Urda.
- When
- 28 October. The article does not state the year of the crash.
- Where
- Urda, in Toledo province, Spain.
- Why
- The trains collided; the cause of the collision is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Carmen said goodbye to Javier in Madrid and boarded the AVE train.
Javier sent Carmen a WhatsApp message after repeated attempts to reach her.
The Civil Guard told the family to report Carmen missing in Toledo and provide DNA samples.
Javier remained at the support centre in Urda while his son Marco went to Toledo to ask at hospitals.
- Carmen de Santa Ana
- 66 years old
- Husband
- Javier Barrio
- Train
- AVE, carriage 7, seat 15A
- Crash location
- Urda, Toledo province
- Date
- 28 October
- Message time
- 10 a.m.
What people are saying
Honey, tell me something
Mum is on the train
None of us took trains today, right?