"According to the current state of the inquiry, there are no reasons to suggest a technical fault with the trains, signaling or braking systems. Our investigation process is about a human error that had catastrophic results," Wolfgang Giese told reporters.
The train controller, who works with Deutsche Bahn, allowed both trains onto the single-line track and unsuccessfully tried to prevent them from crashing, the chief prosecutor said, adding his behavior would be investigated.
Giese stressed that the tragedy could have been avoided had the train controller followed all the rules. The suspect faces charges of manslaughter, causing injuries to people and unsanctioned intervention into train traffic control.
The trains, traveling at a speed of over 60 mph, bored into each other and derailed on impact, according to German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt who visited the site of the crash last Tuesday.
