Three dead, more than 40 injured in Czech train crash

Three people died and eight were seriously injuried after a fast train from Munich collided with a commuter passenger train in the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

Several passengers were taken by helicopters to hospitals from the crash site near the western Czech village of Milavce, the regional rescue service said. Fifty people suffered lighter injuries not requiring immediate treatment.

"The Ex 351 went through a signal indicating Stop...and collided with a passenger train," Transport Minister Karel Havlicek said on Twitter, referring to the express train from Munich to Prague.

TV footage on Czech Television showed the smashed driver's cabin of the fast train's locomotive, as well as the front part of the local train. Both trains remained upright on or near the tracks.

CTK news agency said emergency services deployed four helicopters after the crash, which occurred after 8:00 am (0600 GMT) near the village of Milavce, 140 km southwest of Prague.

Commander Jaroslav Hrdlicka of the regional fire department said on Czech Television rescue workers were still looking for one missing person in the wreckage.