Puente announced his decision at the end of a long hearing before lawmakers, The Guardian reports. “A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot continue in his post after two accidents in less than a year,” he said, The Independent reports. “It’s a question of political dignity, coherence and empathy with the victims.”

The crash happened when a train run by the state-owned company Renfe ran into the back of a stopped train belonging to the private operator Iryo, The Guardian says. It was one of the worst railway disasters in Europe this century, the paper says.

The chain of events began when a communication system key to the safety system on the Madrid to Seville line went down, The Independent reports. Controllers in Madrid then took over and let one train go ahead, even though another train was stopped on the track, the paper says.

The rightwing opposition and unions had criticized Puente, The Guardian reports. They said he seemed to put all the blame on one control center worker.

The crash and another disaster earlier this year have overshadowed the campaign for the general election, in which Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is trailing in the polls, The Guardian says.

A British scientist, Dr Marta Shahbazi, an expert in cell biology, died in the crash, The Independent reports.

The crash took place outside the village of Urda, about 80 miles south of Madrid, The Guardian reports. The general election is set for November 29, the paper says.

Puente had earlier vowed to work tirelessly to win back trust in high-speed rail, The Guardian says. He quit hours later.

What we know: Puente resigned and dropped out of the election after the crash that killed 69 people.
What we don't: Who will replace him as transport minister.