Train and truck collision leaves three injured in Alentejo

Wednesday, 16 September 2026AI summary
Train and truck collision leaves three injured in Alentejo
Photo: RTP Notícias

A collision between a passenger train and a heavy goods vehicle at a private level crossing in Alcáçovas, Viana do Alentejo, resulted in three injuries on Wednesday. The truck driver was seriously injured and airlifted by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon. Two other individuals, who were on the train, sustained minor injuries and were transported to the Espírito Santo Hospital in Évora.

Context & Explainers

Miguel Soares de Oliveira is a doctor who served as president of INEM (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica), Portugal's national institute for medical emergencies; he was appointed last summer and has now resigned. He declined to say whether his departure is linked to moving emergency medical training to outside providers, a change that could affect ambulance services and training arrangements.