Spain train crash: Driver said afterwards 'he wanted to die'
Train driver Francisco Jose Garzon de Amo and (right) moments after the train crash in Santiago de Compostela
The driver of the train that derailed in northern Spain killing 80 people was expected to go before a judge on Friday, as it was reported that following the crash he commented that he had "****ed it up".
A train derailed outside the ancient northwestern Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela
The 52-year-old driver was to give his version of events leading up to the crash, as it emerged that in the aftermath he reportedly remarked: I've ****ed it up. I want to die.
Francisco Jose Garzon de Amo walked away from Spains worst rail accident in decades with only light injuries and has been under police guard in his hospital bed. Local media said his comments had been included in transcripts submitted to investigators.
Stills taken from footage from a track-side camera show the train derailing as it speeds round the bend
At least 80 people died as a result of the crash, 73 at the scene and a further seven from their injuries when they reached hospitals. Authorities described 36 others as being in a critical condition.
On Thursday it emerged that Mr Garzon, who has 30 years experience of operating trains, had allegedly previously boasted on his Facebook page about driving trains at excessive speeds and once posted a picture of a train speedometer reading 200km/h (124mph).
Two investigations have been launched in to the crash, a judicial investigation and one by Spains Ministry of Transport.
Information retrieved from the black box recorder confirmed that the train had indeed been travelling at 190 km per hour when it entered the curve on the approach to Santiago de Compostela.
The speed limit imposed on that stretch of track was 80 km per hour and it was still unclear whether the excess speed could be blamed solely on human error.
Reports suggested that the stretch of track where the derailment took place was a blind spot in terms of rail safety systems.
Spains Train Drivers Union reported that the accident could have been avoided had the track been fitted with the ERTMS system, which automatically applies the brakes if the train is going to fast, as it has across Spains other hi-speed rail links.
Instead the older ASFA system was installed, a system described as perfectly adequate by state-owned firm ADIF, which operates the tracks.
Local reports suggested however that the system may not have been functional on the curve itself.
