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Spanish police have detained the driver of a speeding train that crashed in the nation's deadliest rail disaster in decades, accusing him of criminal recklessness.
The country was in mourning after Wednesday's tragedy, which police said left 78 dead, including foreigners, and many more injured.

The 52-year-old driver faces criminal accusations including "recklessness" over the crash near the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, said Jaime Iglesias, police chief in the northwestern Galicia region. The driver, who reportedly boasted of his love for speed online, was detained in hospital.
A judge ordered police to question the driver, identified by the media as Francisco Jose Garzon Amo. He has not yet been charged with any offence.
Spain's leading El Pais newspaper said the driver had been unable to brake in time.
Investigation sources told El Pais that the driver, while still trapped in his cab, told railway officials by radio the train had taken the curve at 190km/h - more than double the 80km/h speed limit.
El Pais said the driver reported that a speed alarm had been activated on his control panel, adding: "He tried to brake without being able to avoid the tragedy."
The train was carrying more than 200 passengers and crew. Six of the dead have yet to be identified. Local officials said four foreigners were killed - an American, an Algerian, a Mexican and a French national.
Media reports described Garzon Amo, one of two drivers on the train, as a speed freak who once gleefully posted a picture on his Facebook page of a train speedometer at 200 km/h.
A caption read: "I am on the edge, I can't go faster or else I will be fined."
Spanish newspapers quoted another of his posts as saying: "What fun it would be to race the Guardia Civil (police) and pass them, causing their radar to blow up hehehe."


Spanish train collision, at least 150 injured

Spain orders review of rail safety after deadly crash 

Black box data confirms that Spanish train was running too fast

Spanish train driver 'talking on phone' at time of crash

Santiago de Compostela train crash

Spanish train crash driver held and accused of 'recklessness'

Francisco Jose Garzon Amo after the train derailment. Photo: EPA

The train derailing in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Photo: AP

Workers at the scene of the accident. Photo: EPA

Spain in mourning after Galicia rail disaster claims 78 lives 

Rail workers inspect the tracks at the site of a train crash near Santiago de Compostela. Photo: Reuters

A local resident and a policeman help a survivor after he was rescued from the crumpled mess of carriages just outside the Santiago de Compostela station.Photo: Xinhua

A crane removes one of the eight derailed carriages (left); Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (centre) and other officials visit the crash site yesterday. The train had come from Madrid. Photo: AFP

An aerial view of Spain's worst train crash since 1944. Photo: AFP

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoyand other officials visit the crash site yesterday. The train had come from Madrid. Photo: EPA

Driver faces probe after 80 killed in Spain train crash

The train was travelling from Madrid to Ferrol on the Galician coast when it derailed. Photo: Xinhua

A wounded victim sits next to wreckage as rescue workers continue searching for victims. Photo: Reuters

A crane removes a derailed train's car at the site of a train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela on Thursday. Photo: AFP 

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (centre), Public Works Minister Ana Pastor (right) and Galicia's Regional President Alberto Nunez Feijoo (left) visit the scene. Photo: EPA

A train travelling from Madrid to Ferrol which was derailed close to Santiago de Compostela, Galicia. Photo: EPA

Rescue workers pull victims from a train crash near Santiago de Compostela, northwestern Spain. Photo: Reuters

Probe of deadly Spain crash focuses on train speed

Rescuers work at the site where the train crashed. Photo: Xinhua

A woman looks up at flowers placed on the bridge over the railway where the train derailed. Photo: EPA

Relatives of one of the victims of the train crash comfort each other. Photo: Reuters

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Spanish train crash driver under police guard in hospital


Spanish police have detained the driver of a speeding train that crashed in the nation's deadliest rail disaster in decades, accusing him of criminal recklessness.


.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Update | Spanish train crash driver held and accused of 'recklessness'

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Spanish train crash driver under police guard in hospital

Update | Spanish train crash driver held and accused of 'recklessness'

Spanish train crash driver under police guard in hospital