Athletics federation mourns long jumper in Toledo train crash

Julieta Gallego, a 24-year-old long jumper, died in a high-speed train collision in Spain's Toledo province that killed at least 68 people. The crash occurred on Wednesday in the Urda municipality, marking the second deadly accident on the line connecting Madrid to southern Andalusia in less than a year.

Gallego competed for the Madrid-based club AD Sprint and was a regular participant in national club championships. Her personal best in the long jump was 5.90 meters, a mark she set in Antequera in 2023. The Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) confirmed her death and expressed condolences to her family, friends, and teammates.

In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the federation said, “The Spanish athletics family joins in the grief over the passing of Julieta Gallego, athlete of AD Sprint, in the train accident that occurred in Urda (Toledo).” RFEA president Raul Chapado told Spanish newspaper ABC that the sport mourns the loss of a life that was “unjustly extinguished.”

Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha regional government, reported that about 80 people were injured in the crash. Of those, 50 were seriously injured and 15 were in critical condition. The most severely injured were transported to hospitals in the region and in Madrid.

Emergency teams assessed other survivors at a sports hall near the crash site. They sorted individuals by the severity of their injuries before sending them home or to medical facilities. Local media reported that survivors treated near the scene had head wounds, facial swelling, and bloodied clothing, with many appearing dazed.

The investigation into the collision is ongoing. The train line has been a site of intense scrutiny following the previous fatal accident. Gallego’s death adds to the human cost of the infrastructure issues on this route, which connects the capital to the southern region.