Two boys die in train accident
Boys aged 10 and 18 killed as family took shortcut across train track back from football match.
TWO boys from have been killed when they were hit by a train on a family outing to a football match in Paris.
They were among a group of Lille supporters who were walking beside a railway line when a passing train clipped the group, killing Jordan Stravius, 10 and Sullivan Brunel, 18.
The family of the younger boy and family friend Sullivan were hurrying to catch a coach back to the Nord department after watching Lille play Lyon at the Stade de France – with tickets bought the Jordan’s aunt as a Christmas present.
The group had taken a short cut along the unlit tracks, leaving before the final fireworks in an effort to make the coach driver’s 23.15 deadline.
It was the family’s first visit to the Stade de France.
The accident happened just before 23.30 about 600m from the la Plaine Stade-de-France station in the commune of Aubervilliers.
Dominique Stravius, 44, the father of Jordan, is in a critical condition in hospital while his second son, Christopher, 17, had an operation on his foot. A sister, Melanie, escaped with scratches. Eight other people had minor injuries.
The two boys were both avid football fans – Jordan played for the Outreau club in the Pas-de-Calais, as Sullivan had done before he stopped due to a leg injury.
Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau expressed his “profound sadness.”
A judicial investigation has been opened. The Ministry of Transport has also commissioned a study to “examine the risks linked to large gatherings of people near train tracks.”
Photo: Afp/Franck Desprez
