A minor incident occurred, this Wednesday, July 15, on the level crossing of Avenay-Val-d'Or (Marne) a year to the day after a collision between a train and a car which had killed four people . Around 10:00 am, a wine tractor got stuck a few centimeters from the track with the barrier on the passenger compartment while the driver saw " a train coming ", said the latter to AFP. “ A train has passed. The barrier rose, then it suddenly lowered. I turned back, "he testified, adding that he was going to give a statement Wednesday to the gendarmerie brigade of Epernay.
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SNCF Grand Est confirmed to AFP the incident and indicated that a team had gone to the site to examine the installation. When contacted, the gendarmerie indicated that it did not have more information at this stage.
"It's starting to do a lot"
This incident comes a year to the day after a collision between a regional train and a car that claimed the lives of four people, including three children. " For us, this is starting to do a lot, " reacted to AFP Me Chemla, lawyer for two of the three families bereaved by the accident of July 15, 2019. " We have just alerted the public prosecutor of Reims on this new incident. This is an important element that must bounce the investigation. "
In an interview with AFP on Monday, these families urged that the numerous testimonies pointing to the shortcomings of the crossing be taken into account. According to them, the gendarmes in charge of the investigation collected more than fifteen as well as a dozen reports of equipment malfunctions. According to the mother of the missing girl, another incident had already occurred on " Thursday July 9 " in the same place, confirmed by the SNCF.