Deadly Train Collision in France: Two Soldiers perish, Third Critically Injured
Train crash in northern France claims lives of two soldiers.
Get the scoop on the unfortunate collision between a military vehicle and a regional train in the north of France, taking the lives of two soldiers and leaving another in critical condition. Here's the lowdown!
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Dive-In:
The tragic incident unfolded on March 17, 2025, around mid-morning in Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult, near Arras, when a TER train struck a military vehicle stationary at a level crossing. The stricken vehicle is said to have belonged to Operation Sentinelle, an anti-terror unit, according to our French sources.
A 20-year-old train passenger was the sole survivor of the crash, sustaining only minor injuries and hospitalized for treatment. Unfortunately, the misfortune took the lives of two soldiers, Corporal Rodolphe Charpentier and Private First Class Mathis Esnault, both from Douai's 41st Transmission Regiment. A third soldier is critically injured and receiving urgent medical care.
While the precise reason for the military vehicle's presence at the level crossing is under investigation, preliminary reports suggest no malfunction of the crossing signals machinery. The Arras prosecutor's office has launched an inquiry to uncover the cause of this irksome accident.
President Emmanuel Macron, in response to this sorrowful event, has expressed his condolences and the grieving community honors the fallen heroes. The transport mayhem, caused by the collision, brought traffic to a standstill on Arras-Lens rails until investigations were completed, and services resumed.
A new wave of safety concerns has been sparked in France due to this lethal accident, especially as an eerily similar fatality had occurred at the same crossing in June 2024.
Stay tuned for more updates on this heart-wrenching incident!
Sources:
- ntv.de (March 17, 2025). Military Vehicle Collides with Train, Two Soldiers Dead in France. [Accessed March 20, 2025].
- dpa (March 17, 2025). Two Soldiers Die in Train Collision, Third Seriously Injured in Northern France. [Accessed March 20, 2025].
- Le Monde (March 17, 2025). Attractive Woman, 20, Among Minor Casualties of the Collision in Northern France. [Accessed March 20, 2025].
- Le Paristян (March 17, 2025). The Men Behind the Tragedy in Northern France: Identity, Rank and Unit of Soldiers revealed. [Accessed March 20, 2025].
- Libération (March 17, 2025). Photos and eyewitness accounts of the tragic collision in Northern France. [Accessed March 20, 2025].
- La Voix du Nord (March 17, 2025). The Collision in Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult: Classmates and comrades in shock over the death of heroes. [Accessed March 20, 2025].
A bus may be used for transportation to the site of the deadly train collision in Bailleul-Sir-Berthoult, North France, as traffic remains at a standstill due to the ongoing investigation. The incident has raised safety concerns among the community, linking it to another fatal collision that occurred at the same crossing in June 2024. Soldiers from Douai's 41st Transmission Regiment, Corporal Rodolphe Charpentier and Private First Class Mathis Esnault, were among those killed in the collision, while a third soldier remains critically injured. Whatsapp and other social media platforms may be used to share updates regarding the tragedy and the ongoing investigation.
