Castelar Train Crash (Photo: Carlos Brigo/Télam/aa)
The driver of the Chapa 1 train which crashed in Castelar in June 2013, killing three people and injuring more than 300, has been found guilty of causing the accident and sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
The verdict was read early this afternoon by the Criminal Oral Tribunal of San Isidro. The driver, Daniel Roberto López, was also banned from driving trains for ten years.
Gregorio Dalbón, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, celebrated the decision. “We have achieved something important, which is to have this person who killed people go to jail. We will now investigate [train drivers’ union] La Fraternidad.” Dalbón, who had requested an 11-year sentence, also pointed out that the verdict against López sets a precedent for the Once train crash case.
The prosecutor, Alberto Gentilli, highlighted the speed with which the case was resolved.
The accident occurred when the Chapa 1 train, which López was driving, crashed into the back of another train that was waiting at the Castelar train station, on the Sarmiento line. López had alleged that the brakes were not working, but this was refuted by specialists working on the investigation.
Before the verdict was read, López apologised to the families of the victims. “I can’t sleep over this, I apologise for the horror you’ve had to go through,” he said.
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