Salamanca Train Deaths Investigated as Potential Case of Gender-Based Violence
A possible case of gender-based violence is under investigation following the deaths of a man and a woman struck by a train near Salamanca, Spain, on Sunday night.
The Civil Guard of Salamanca is investigating the incident, which occurred on July 20, 2025, when an Alvia train traveling from Madrid to Salamanca struck two individuals near the town of Gomecello. Authorities have confirmed the 41-year-old male victim’s identity, but the woman remains unidentified due to the “unrecognizable” state of her remains. Crucially, investigators have revealed the man was the subject of a prior complaint related to gender violence, raising concerns about a potential motive.
The woman’s body has been transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Salamanca for a comprehensive identification process. This procedure, essential in cases involving severely compromised remains, involves a meticulous comparison of physical data with information provided by family or other reliable sources. Establishing the relationship between the two victims is a determining factor in the ongoing investigation.
According to sources close to the inquiry, the train impacted the individuals at approximately 10:50 p.m. near the Moorish Apeadero. The driver subsequently halted the train at kilometer 70. “Last night there was a running over of two people at the height of Moriscos, by the Alvia train from Madrid to Salamanca,” stated Rosa López, the Government Subdelegate in Salamanca, on Monday. “The identity of the male of about 41 years is already confirmed, but that of the woman is still not known exactly, as if it is or not about her husband, which is what they are investigating at this time at the Forensic Anatomical Institute. The causes of the running over are not known either. No possibility is being investigated and no possibility is ruled out.”
Initial reports indicated Adif security services were alerted to a person on the tracks, but emergency responders discovered remains of a second individual at the unauthorized location. A medical team and ambulance were dispatched following a 112 emergency call, and the Civil Guard’s Organic Judicial Police Unit secured the area for investigation.
The incident caused significant disruption to rail service, with the Alvia 4909 train – which departed Madrid at 9:10 p.m. – remaining stopped for approximately five hours with 257 passengers onboard. The train was originally scheduled to arrive in Salamanca before 11:00 p.m.
At this stage, all hypotheses remain open as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
For individuals affected by domestic violence, the 012- Information Telephone to La Mujer de Castilla y León is available for support.
