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College of Charleston Professor Identified as U.S. Victim in Lisbon Funicular Crash

A preliminary report on the suspected mechanical failure is expected Saturday.

Overview

  • Heather Hall, an education professor from the College of Charleston, was confirmed as the lone American killed while visiting Lisbon to speak at a conference.
  • News outlets report 16 to 17 fatalities and 18 to 21 injuries from the derailment of the historic Glória funicular.
  • Portugal declared a day of national mourning, with Prime Minister Luis Montenegro calling the event one of the country's biggest recent tragedies.
  • Authorities have opened an investigation into a possible cable or mechanical failure, and local media have raised questions about maintenance practices.
  • Officials said the dead include Portuguese citizens and tourists from Britain, Canada, South Korea, France, Switzerland, and Ukraine.