It was hauled by the steam locomotive type 354.7128 from the Hradec Králové engine house and operated by the train driver and an assistant/fireman.

The senior conductor supposedly saw a green light close to the station office, which would have meant "permission to depart".

He informed the junior conductor that he had seen the signal and shouted "Get on board, [station dispatcher] gives departure"; he asserted later that he saw only a flash of green light.

The most likely possibility would have been a junior conductor's lantern, as these were equipped with filters in multiple colors, including green.

When the station dispatcher saw that train 608 had started to move, he rushed out of his office and used a lantern and two whistles to signal "stop by any possible means".

The duty of the senior conductor during departure was to observe signals coming from the station, but he had already begun to check tickets.

Train 608's driver and fireman survived almost unhurt, because the locomotive's construction, especially its long boiler, saved them.

In order to prevent a boiler explosion, the steam engine's driver and fireman dumped their firebox on the ground.

The hot coals and ashes ignited diesel fuel leaking from 653's first railcar, and the train burst into flames.

The rescue operation started at around 18:00, with the help of medical teams from Pardubice and Hradec Králové, members of police (then called Public Security), soldiers from the nearby military school and local citizens.

The field first aid post was set up, ambulances transported the injured to hospitals in Pardubice and Hradec Králové and the operations were run even in maternity homes.

The official bulletin on the accident was issued on 15 November 1960 by Czechoslovak Press Agency, which was printed by the Rudé Právo (Communist Party of the Czechoslovakia central newspaper) next day.

The bulletin published the number of victims, mentioned politicians who visited the disaster place and announced the creation of a government investigation commission.

A cross was erected on the place of disaster; it was replaced about 80 meters away in 1967 and enclosed by low grille fence.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the disaster in 2000, a memorial ceremony was held in which the municipal office in Stéblová replaced the cross (at that time considerably dilapidated and rusty) by a black granite plaque with an appropriate inscription, inserted into the modified area.