Overview
- A regional Caen–Rouen train derailed near Cléon while traveling about 140 km/h on Friday night, injuring 44 of roughly 180–186 people on board.
- One passenger, an 18-year-old woman, was flown to hospital with serious injuries and five people remain hospitalized while most others were treated and released.
- A social-media photo showing a long metal fragment sitting between the rails has pushed investigators to treat deliberate sabotage as the leading hypothesis.
- The Rouen prosecutor has opened an official judicial inquiry and handed the case to the local judicial police as teams collect CCTV, passenger and crew testimony and conduct forensic tests; preliminary toxicology and alcohol tests on the driver were negative and SNCF is cooperating.
- Officials say the investigation is likely to be lengthy and could prompt wider security reviews of regional lines, a concern sharpened by past unsolved attacks on French rail infrastructure.