BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham native was among dozens who were injured following a fatal train crash in Spain last week.
According to a GoFundMe, Austin Hartman was on a high-speed train that crashed near Madrid on Wednesday, Oct. 28, killing 69 people. He suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, hip, femur, ribs and back, along with extensive lacerations to his face and body.
Hartman, who graduated from Bellingham High School in 2024, is a junior at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. He was studying abroad with another student who was also severely injured in the crash.
Hartman’s parents say he’s facing a long road to recovery with multiple surgeries ahead and won’t be able to return to Bellingham for at least two months.
KIRO 7 has verified the GoFundMe campaign and says his mother has traveled to Spain to assist with his care. As of Wednesday, Nov. 4, the GoFundMe has raised over $75,000.
The crash occurred when a high-speed train collided with another that had stopped on the tracks due to a communication system failure.
Spain’s transport minister announced his resignation on Tuesday, Nov. 3, following the second such incident this year.
