Deadly head-on train collision in Germany was caused by 'human error' says prosecutors
THE head-on collision between two commuter trains in Germany last week was caused by "human error" by the train dispatcher, prosecutors believe.
The devastating crash killed 11 people and saw dozens more injured
The devastating crash killed 11 people and saw dozens more injured when the trains crashed on a single-line track near Bad Aibling near Munich.
A criminal probe against the 39-year-old dispatcher has now been sparked following the prosecutor's ruling today.
Chief prosecutor Wolfgang Giese said his office has officially opened a criminal investigation.
Mr Giese said: “Had he behaved according to the rules the trains would not have collided."
If the dispatcher is tried and found guilty of causing deaths through negligence, he could be jailed for up to five years.
The two regional trains had collided on a single track between Rosenheim and Holzkirchen shortly before 7am local time (6am GMT).
Chief prosecutor Wolfgang Giese said his office has officially opened a criminal investigation
A planned carnival in Rosenheim was cancelled in light of the tragic incident
Germany Train Crash
Had he behaved according to the rules the trains would not have collided
It is believed they both derailed and became "wedged into each other."
A planned carnival in Rosenheim was cancelled in light of the tragic incident.
Last week saw shocking footage of the collision emerge, showing scared passengers trapped inside the wrecked train as they come to terms with what has just happened.