An unprecedented and dramatic train accident occurred in Haute-Saône this Friday, July 17, 2026. An Intercités train traveling at 130 km/ha crashed into a herd of cows in Creveny, killing 21 animals and slightly injuring five passengers.
An unusual accident occurred this Friday, July 17, 2026, in the Haute-Saône department.
L’Est Républicain reports that at around 7:23 am, an Intercités train connecting Mulhouse and Paris-Est crashed into a herd of cows near the town of Creveny just before Vesoul station, sadly killing 21 of the 23 animals.
Impact at a speed of 130 km/h.
According to the National Federation of Farmers’ Unions (FDSEA) of the Haute-Saône, for a reason yet to be determined, the cows were lying on the tracks when the train arrived, France 3 Bourgogne-Franche-Comté points out.
Although he braked when he saw them, the driver was unable to avoid the collision. The strong shock killed the animals and caused the locomotive to derail. “This is a bloodbath. We have never seen anything like it,” an FDSEA spokesman commented.
The collision could have occurred at a speed of 130 km/h, our colleagues from Est Républicain clarified.
Five minor injuries on a train
Twenty-three passengers and three employees were on the train at the time of the accident. Five people were slightly injured, but their condition did not require medical attention.