“I went through many phases, supposedly I feel a bit more vindicated since last year’s anniversary, when there were various scenarios and they tried to blame my child,” said Ms. Stavroula Karydi, mother of the freight train driver who collided with the fatal passenger train at Tempi, speaking to Parapolitika 90.1 and the show “She and I” with Thanasis Fouskidis and Stella Gantona, one day before the “black” anniversary marking three years since the tragedy.
“I believe this scenario has now been clarified, these suspicions have been removed from the workers, but it doesn’t change anything. It was expected that suspicions would arise, given that the field management was what it was, violating every law. This whole thing has been perpetuated for 3 years and has divided people,” Ms. Karydi added. When asked about this, the mother of the freight train driver in the Tempi rail disaster said: “This was exploited by political figures who were also victims’ lawyers, like Zoe Konstantopoulou.”
Tempi: Some tried to blame one of the two train drivers
“Some tried to blame one of the two train drivers for things that weren’t true and created wrong impressions,” she also mentioned. Furthermore, when asked if anyone ever approached her, as reportedly happened with Maria Karystianos in her case, Ms. Karydi said: “I personally, being the mother of the train driver, no one contacted us, no one helped us and no one offered anything.” “Personally, I had neither harassment nor help from anyone,” she said.
About Maria Karystianos’ video
Regarding the video published by Maria Karystianos for the “black” anniversary of three years since the Tempi tragedy and the comments being made, she said: “I am among the parents who wasn’t shocked when I saw it. I was surprised that some families were shocked, like Mr. Aslanidis, who conveys opinions of other families too. I wasn’t shocked, nor did I see or hear things we didn’t already know. I think the video was within the permissible limits of informing the public.”
Additionally, regarding the trial for Tempi expected to begin soon, she said: “We want to be vindicated. There was an attempt to present the crime as a simple traffic accident. (…) There were warnings and voices from workers. However, those who had the power to prevent it told both workers and passengers that the trains were absolutely safe.”
“The accident at the ‘Violanta’ factory shocked me more than Mrs. Karystianos’ video, I saw a new Tempi before my eyes. The goal is not to experience such situations again, not to allow a new Tempi,” Ms. Karydi concluded.
