A train that derailed and crashed into a station platform near Paris, France, Friday has left six people dead and at least 12 injured. Out of the 12, nine are said to be in critical condition.
A regional rail holding about 385 passengers was travelling from Paris to the city of Limoges, when it went off track at the Bretigny-sur-Orges station, 12 miles south of Paris. Some passengers are still trapped in the train and emergency officials are working to rescue them.
According to USA Today National Rail Operator SNCF said two of the train cars originally derailed, causing the other cars to fall off track.
"Some cars simply derailed, others are leaning, others fell over," said the spokesman for SNCF, Guillaume Pepy, calling the situation a catastrophe.
Chicago Tribune reports that officials do not yet know what caused the derailment of the train and are investigating the matter, although some passengers said the train seemed to be going faster than usual while passing the station.
This has been the deadliest train crash the French have seen in years. The passengers on the train were made up of many families travelling out of the city for their most important national holiday, Bastille Day, to be celebrated Sunday. It is a celebration of their country, similar to July 4 in the U.S.
After the accident, most trains leaving from Paris were suspended.
Photo Courtesy of USA Today