Cambridge researcher Marta Shahbazi was among 69 people killed when two high-speed trains collided at Urda in Spain on October 28. Her death was confirmed by the University of Cambridge’s Stem Cell Institute and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, where she led a research group.
Shahbazi was an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. Her work focused on early embryonic development. The Cambridge Stem Cell Institute confirmed she died in the crash.
According to the regional emergency service, the collision occurred at Urda station in Castilla-La Mancha. Shahbazi was travelling on one of the trains involved. The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology said she was on her way to receive an award from the Spanish Society for Developmental Biology.
Investigation and casualty update
Authorities in Castilla-La Mancha continued to report 69 deaths as of November 2. Their latest update said 29 people remained in hospital, including nine in intensive care; 110 people had been admitted since the crash. The regional government said support for injured passengers and families was continuing.
The technical investigation has not established a definitive cause. A preliminary report identified the failure of the LZB signalling system and subsequent instructions and communications as areas of interest, while leaving possible explanations open. Investigators are examining the events leading to the collision, and no final finding has been announced.
The regional government’s latest casualty update also reported that 66 of the 69 people who died had been identified by November 2.
Reid Bentley