The driver of the train that caused one of Spain's worst railway accidents ever was sentenced on Friday to two years and six months in prison for manslaughter. The train operator's safety chief was also sentenced to the same prison term.
The eight-car train was traveling at 179 kilometers per hour, twice the permitted speed on that stretch, when it derailed just outside the city of Santiago de Compostela in 2013. The train accident claimed 80 lives and 140 people were injured.
According to the prosecutor, the crash was partly due to the train driver talking on the phone. The safety chief was convicted for not analyzing the risks of the curve where the accident occurred.
A Spanish court declared the two men guilty of manslaughter on Friday. They will also have to pay 25 million euros in damages. The amount will be covered by their personal insurance.
