UK: train crash lorry driver is arrested

[John Ashworth]

BBC 19 December 2011 Last updated at 14:41 GMT

Whitland train crash: Lorry driver, 48, is arrested

The driver of a hay lorry hit by a train on a level crossing in Carmarthenshire has been arrested.

Seven people on the Milford Haven to Manchester service suffered minor injuries near Whitland at 09:50 GMT.

Passengers were led to safety and shuttle buses are now running between Milford Haven and Carmarthen. Engineers are assessing the damage.

British Transport Police (BTP) said a 48-year-old local man was being held on suspicion of endangering safety.

Some passengers said they were amazed no-one was seriously hurt.

Five people were taken to hospital after the crash.

Arriva Trains Wales said just under 60 passengers were on its 09:10 Milford Haven to Manchester service when the crash happened at the Llanboidy level crossing on a minor road near a spot called Crossing Cottage.

BTP's sector commander for Wales, Sandra England, said: "Our investigation is continuing into the cause of the collision, including piecing together exactly how the vehicle came to be on the tracks at the time.

"As part of that investigation, the driver of the vehicle, a 48-year-old man from Llanboidy, Whitland, has been arrested this afternoon on suspicion of endangering safety.

"He has been taken to a police station in Haverfordwest, where he is assisting my officers with their enquiries.

"Measures are now in place to remove the vehicle from the tracks but in the meantime, the road on both sides of the crossing remains closed."

Passenger Skip Maloney told BBC Wales of the moments leading up to the crash.

"The driver slowed down just before we hit," he said.

'Completely crushed'

He said he carried out first aid on a woman sat behind him but no-one suffered serious injuries.

"I think everyone was suffering from shock a bit," he added.

Juan Giner who was travelling home to Spain said: "Everything was fine and suddenly the train stopped in a very strong way - very dramatically.

"The train continued for 100 yards moving the lorry along.

"It's incredible that the driver of the train survived because the whole of his room was completely crushed.

"I'm really thinking this could be an incredible tragedy."

Emergency repairs

Network Rail said all passengers had been led to safety.

A spokesperson said: "Engineers are currently assessing the damage to the rail infrastructure and train respectively.

"Emergency repairs will be carried out once investigation is completed."

Network Rail is advising passengers to check with National Rail Enquiries or Arriva Trains Wales before starting their journey.

A spokesperson for the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said it had an inspector on site.

"ORR will work with the BTP and other agencies to find out exactly what happened and quickly identify the causes of this incident," they added.

[John Ashworth]

Some good pictures in the Daily Mail article

Three injured after train collides with hay lorry trapped on level-crossing

By GRAHAM SMITH
Last updated at 10:44 PM on 19th December 2011
Daily Mail

Three commuters have been injured after a train ploughed into a lorry trapped on a level-crossing today.

Up to 60 people were on the crowded service between Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and Manchester when it hit a farm vehicle carrying bales of hay at 9.50am.

The driver was unable to stop the train, which was travelling at 50mph, in time after spotting the lorry stuck on the crossing at Whitland, Carmarthenshire, police said.

Passengers told how commuters screamed in terror as the train suddenly slammed on its emergency brakes, before they felt a sharp impact.

They then emerged from the train to find hay bales strewn around the wreckage.

Skip Maloney, 51, said: 'The driver broke hard and I thought this is a bit strange, then we hit the truck.

'Afterwards I went through the carriage and made sure everyone else was OK, the ticket collector had hurt his arm and a lady behind me had split the bridge of her nose.

'I think everyone was suffering from shock but it could have been a lot worse.

'It was bizarre seeing all this hay over the track.'

It is believed a barrier came down on top of the lorry while it was passing through the level-crossing, trapping it across the railway tracks.

Emergency services treated three passengers at the scene, including one with a head wound who was taken to hospital, but none were seriously injured. The train and lorry drivers are both believed to have escaped without injury.

Paramedics also gave oxygen to several passengers.

Police said they are looking into the causes of the accident.

Chief Inspector Sandra England said: 'There's various injuries from shock to cuts and bruising but at this moment I'm not aware of any serious injuries.

'The train remained on the tracks but it has pushed the cab of the van up the line and there will be recovery work to see what happened and to get the trains moving.'

A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'We were called to the railway line after a report that a train had struck a vehicle towing a trailer over a crossing.

'It is believed there were around 50 to 60 passengers on the train initial reports suggest some have been treated for shock.

'An investigation is under way into the cause of the collision, including how the vehicle came to be on the tracks, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been notified.'

Arriva Trains Wales said replacement buses are running with all train services on the line west of Carmarthen being stopped.