Two Californian students injured after train crash kills 69 in Spain

Two California university students were injured in a horrific train crash in Spain that killed at least 69 people.

The accident occurred on Wednesday when a high-speed train crashed into another that was stopped in Udra, Spain, about 160 kilometers south of Madrid.

California Polytechnic State University confirmed that two of those injured in the crash were from the school, while a GoFundMe identified one of the two as third-year student Leah Silver-Fajardo.

Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier told KSBY 6 the university is in contact with the U.S. Embassy and study abroad partners in Spain.

He confirmed that the students were receiving medical treatment.

“The university is in contact with the families of these students to provide support. Additionally, Cal Poly is reaching out to its students studying in Spain and throughout Europe to offer support,” he said.

At the GoFundMe set up for Leah, her aunt Rachel Chernin said the funds would help cover her niece’s medical and other expenses.

The fundraiser has a goal of $110,000 and the family had already raised more than $92,000 as of Monday morning.

Leah suffered multiple serious injuries, including fractures to her knee, pelvis and ribs, as well as bruising to her lungs, cuts and burns, according to the fundraising page.

She has already had knee surgery and is awaiting another procedure to repair her pelvis.

In an update shared Saturday, Chernin said doctors discovered an additional fracture in Leah’s femur after she was transferred out of intensive care.

She also said Leah had difficulty managing her pain due to the side effects of the morphine.

Leah studies neuropsychology at Cal Poly. She is originally from Seattle, Washington.

According to the GoFundMe page, Leah enjoys outdoor activities such as running and hiking, as well as traveling.

A few weeks before the accident, she celebrated her 21st birthday in Florence, Italy.

Her parents, Nicole and Sergio, received a call from the embassy telling them that Leah had been involved in the train crash.

The GoFundMe page added that initially her parents did not know where she was or if she was alive.

Her friends who were studying abroad visited several hospitals before they were able to find her and share the news with her parents.

Her family members left their respective jobs and studies and rushed to Spain to be by Leah’s side, according to the GoFundMe post.

The other Cal Poly student affected by the accident remains unidentified.

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