ANKARA, Oct 13 (AFP) - A Turkish court on Wednesday released from jail one of three rail workers as they went on trial over a July train crash that claimed 37 lives in one of the country's worst rail disasters, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Three crew members -- train manager Koksal Coskun and drivers Fikret Karabulut and Recep Sonmez -- were indicted over the July 22 tragedy that saw a packed, newly-inaugurated fast train derail near the northwestern town of Pamukova while on its way from Istanbul to Ankara.
Coskun and Sonmez denied any wrongdoing when the trial for negligent homicide opened Wednesday, while Karabulut, who was driving the train at the time, argued that the train was travelling within the speed limit set by the state railwways for that stretch of track.
The cause of the accident, which also injured 80 people, has yet to be determined but Transport Minister Binali Yildirm announced soon after the crash that the train had exceeded the speed -- a claim disputed by trade unions and the drivers' lawyers.
The court freed Sonmez but decided that Karabulut should remain in custody. Coskun had already been released from custody prior before the trial started.
The trial was adjourned to November 10.
The July accident was followed by a second crash in the same area on August 12, in which two trains collided head-on, killing eight and injuring 88.
Following the accidents, Yildirim sacked the director and deputy director of the state railways amid a public outcry over the poor state of the country's outdated rail system.