A 16-year-old teenager who was trying to get on a freight train stationed at a sorting station in Richwiller, Haut-Rhin, died electrocuted Thursday afternoon, AFP told the gendarmerie.
An electric arc has formed
The accident occurred shortly before 4 pm The teenager came with two comrades of 16 and 11 years to have fun on this site banned from the public, according to the same source. As he tried to get on the roof of a wagon, an electric arc was formed, electrocuting the teenager, they added. The catenary, which carries 25,000 volts, is indeed far away at this location only one meter from the roof of the car and the risk that an electric arc is formed is extremely high, it was explained.
The teenager was thrown to the ground under the gaze of his two comrades, who immediately called for help. Arrived quickly on the spot, the firefighters could unfortunately not revive it. In shock, his two comrades were transported to the hospital in Mulhouse.