Fatal Train Collision Near London: Driver Killed, Over 80 Injured
On Friday evening, two trains collided north of London near the town of Bedford, resulting in one death and over 80 injuries, according to authorities.
The collision occurred around 5:15 p.m. as both trains were travelling south towards London St. Pancras station. Emergency services, including an air ambulance and a hazardous incident team from the East of England Ambulance Service, were deployed to the scene.
Police declared a major incident. A statement said: 'We know that a number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died. Officers are continuing to respond at the scene alongside colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and the local Fire and Rescue and Ambulance Services.'
The East of England Ambulance Service later reported that 11 people had very serious injuries, 22 were seriously injured, and 56 had minor injuries.
Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), confirmed that the deceased was a train driver.
Passenger Peter Knapp, who was in the rear train, described the impact: 'There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming. People were so scared and confused.' He added that he saw fellow passengers with broken legs and other injuries, and managed to escape by squeezing through a gap in the doors.
Social media images showed dozens of people, some with bandages, standing among emergency vehicles on a road parallel to the tracks.
The RMT union expressed concern over reports of serious injuries to both staff and passengers.
East Midlands Railway stated that the 4:40 p.m. train from Corby to St. Pancras collided with the 3:50 p.m. train from Nottingham to the same station. The company cancelled all trains to and from St. Pancras for the rest of Friday and said it could not confirm the Saturday schedule.
