A 27-year-old Panama resident was among those hurt in the Spain train collision near Toledo on Wednesday, October 28, when a high-speed AVE train struck another train roughly 150 kilometers south of Madrid. Nicolás Tribaldos, who was traveling as a tourist, told Spanish newspaper El País that he suffered severe chest contusions after being thrown several meters inside the fifth carriage.
Emergency responders confirmed at least 68 fatalities and dozens more injured in the crash. Tribaldos transported himself to Hospital La Paz in Madrid, bypassing facilities closer to the disaster site that he believed would be overwhelmed.
Spain Train Collision Panamanian Survivor Recounts Impact
Tribaldos described the moment of impact with stark clarity.
“With certainty I can say the train did not try to brake, it was a dry blow” [Translated from Spanish]
He was seated in carriage five of the AVE high-speed service when the collision occurred.
The force of the crash sent him airborne within the train car.
“With the impact I was shot several meters. I hit a table and now I have severe chest contusions, but I am grateful to be alive” [Translated from Spanish]
He managed to escape by breaking one of the train’s windows after the wreckage came to rest.
A high-speed passenger train rear-ended another on Wednesday near Toledo, Spain. It was one of the deadliest train crashes in the country’s history. Here’s what to know. https://t.co/IPotNbL7vn #BallonDor #GFvip https://t.co/yneh1VxeXI
— Dew You (@Dewyou239) October 28, 2026
Damage Assessment and Local Assistance
The structural damage varied dramatically between train cars, according to Tribaldos. Carriage five remained largely intact, allowing passengers to exit more easily. The first two carriages, he said, were crushed to the point of resembling paper.
Residents of the nearby town of Urda mobilized quickly to support survivors.
“I am very grateful to the people of Urda, who received us, and to the businesses that donated food to us” [Translated from Spanish]
Local merchants provided meals and basic aid as emergency services worked at the scene.
Medical Evaluation and Next Steps
Tribaldos chose to seek treatment in Madrid rather than at hospitals closer to Toledo, citing concerns about saturation at those facilities. He remained in the emergency area at Hospital La Paz awaiting X-rays to confirm the extent of his injuries.
The collision ranks among the deadliest rail accidents in Spain in decades. Authorities have not yet released an official cause for why the high-speed train failed to brake before impact. The investigation remains active as recovery operations continued through Wednesday evening.