A passenger dead at Caracas metro crash (updated)

A collision of two underground trains –Metro – at Plaza Sucre in western Caracas resulted in one passenger dead - 59-year-old Zulay del Carmen Astudillo - and 11 injured on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 9:09 am. One driver -José Becerra - was trapped inside a wagon but later rescued by fire workers. This is the first time such event takes place in the 23 year old Caracas Metro service.  At this very moment, there is uncertainty over the technical or human causes of this collision. An official investigation is now taking place.information is expected this evening.  There was a delay in the Caracas metro service. Now service has been fully restored in all station but Plaza Sucre. 

PS: Later today, Venezuelan Home Minister, Pedro Carreño, said preliminary findings showed brake system and sensor failures caused this crash. During a state TV (VTV) presentation, Caracas Metro President, Gustavo González López, showed a video on the collision. Confronting rumors, he stated the accident was not caused by lack of maintenance. There was an investigation going on by different security and police services and he will take full responsibility for its conclusions.  However, González López also quoted there was a strong evidence that malfunction occurred at the speed signaling system.     

Sources: Globovisión, Union Radio VTV El Universal ABN RNV Vive Telesur Earthtimes.org