Cable Theft Cited in Deadly Train Wreck
From Times Wire Reports
Twelve children and at least 14 adults died in a train wreck that occurred just after signal cables were stolen, South African officials said.
A packed passenger train and a freight train collided Tuesday in Charlotte’s Dale, 42 miles north of the Indian Ocean port of Durban.
State transport company Transnet said signal cables were stolen an hour before the accident, forcing the manual control of signals. Theft of copper wire cable, which is sold as scrap metal, is a chronic problem.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
