One of the victims of the train crash in Urda was traveling to his daughter's wedding, marking the human stories of the disaster in Toledo province. As the search for several missing persons continues, the deaths of former minister Fátima Báñez and the conductor of the composition have been confirmed.
© Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
29/10/2026
by
O railway accident between two high-speed trains in Urda, in the Spanish region of Toledo, caused at least 69 deaths and dozens of wounded on Wednesday morning. As time passes, victims begin to be identified by the Spanish press, such as Ana Avilés, Juan José, David Reina, Sharona Freudman, Roberto Afonso, Antonio Acedo, Fátima Báñez and Julieta Gallego.
70-year-old Ana Avilés was traveling alone in the number 7 carriage of the Spanish company Renfe's high-speed train AVE, and was sitting in place 18B when the collision with Iryo's train occurred.
The woman, resident in Madrid, had begun the journey at 8 a.m. locals (7 a.m. in Lisbon) towards Seville for the wedding of her daughter, which was to take place on Saturday.
Since the collision, Ana’s relatives have not heard from her, despite having moved to Urda and “wanted everywhere possible,” Francisco Jiménez, Ana’s future son-in-law, told the newspaper El Español.
Also on board the Renfe train, in the 108C place of carriage 8, was Juan José García Palacios, a 27-year-old Guardia Civil military officer who is also missing.
“We don’t know anything about him,” a Sevilhan cousin explained to El Español.
José, seconded in Madrid, boarded Renfe AVE 2080 to return home in Seville after “having finished a week’s work”.
Among the missing is also David Reina Reguera, a 22-year-old who lives in Madrid and works as a train mechanic for Renfe.
The young man traveled alone in carriage 8 of the train that made the journey between Madrid and Seville. His destiny was Malaga, where he planned to spend a few days with his family.
“We don’t know anything about him,” an aunt told the Spanish press.
There's at least one foreign citizen among the missing. Sharona Freudman, 69, has Canadian nationality and traveled with her husband and son in carriage 7 when the accident occurred. They were rescued and are hospitalized.
“ My uncle and my cousin are fine because they were in the dining car [at the time of the collision]”, explained the niece, Alejandra, to Espanõl.
In carriage 7 was also Roberto Alfonso Delgado Andrade, who was traveling to Seville and has been missing ever since.
“ We went to Atocha this morning, but they didn't help us. We called him all day and now they found his phone, but they don’t tell us anything”, said daughter Constanza.
At least three identified fatalities
For now, there are at least three fatalities identified by the Spanish press. The first was the former Minister of Labor of Spain, Fátima Báñez, who traveled on the train of Iryo, according to sources to the newspaper DEMÓCRATA.
Already this Thursday, El Correo identified the driver of Renfe's train as Antonio Acedo, a 36-year-old man.
Izquierda Española, a party to which she belonged and which confirmed her death, described him as a “exceptional, good, prudent and committed man”.
Later, the Madrid Sprint Sports Association confirmed, in a statement, that one of the victims is the 24-year-old athlete Julieta Gallego. The young woman lived in Germany and was spending a few days with her family in Spain.
“ The Spanish athletics family joins in mourning the death of Julieta Gallego, an AD Sprint athlete, in the train accident in Urda (Toledo). We express our deepest feelings and total support for your family, loved ones and clubmates. Rest in peace”, also lamented the Spanish Federation of Athletics.
La familia del atletismo español une al dolor por el fallecimiento de Julieta Gallego , athlete of @adsprint , en el accidente railwayio ocurrido en Urda (Toledo). We want to translate nuestro pésame y every nuestro apoyo a su família, seres lovados y compañeros de club. Rest in peace.
— athleticsRFEA (@athletismRFEA) October 29, 2026