One person has been confirmed dead while 15 others are being hospitalized after two trains collided in the UK on Monday, Oct. 21.
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According to the British Transport Police (BTP), the accident, which occurred at around 7:30 p.m. local time, involved two “low-speed” trains.
The BBC reported that one of the trains had been traveling from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth. The other train was going from Machynlleth to Shrewsbury.
The two trains collided near the village of Llanbrynmair.
“Sadly, we can confirm a man has died following the collision. His next of kin have been informed and his family are being supported by specialist officers,” the BTP shared in a statement. “A further 15 people have been taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
All other passengers were quickly evacuated from the two trains after the accident. BBC reported that the deceased passenger was a 60-year-old man traveling from Shrewsbury.
Superintendent Andrew Morgan also spoke out about the accident. “We can sadly confirm a man has died following this evening’s incident. We extend our deepest sympathies to his loved ones, alongside everyone else impacted and specialist officers continue to provide support.”
Morgan then shared, “British Transport Police are working at pace, along with our colleagues in emergency services and the rail industry, to understand the circumstances leading up to this collision. Residents will see an increased policing presence in the area in the coming days as a result.”
Multiple emergency services attended the accident. This includes the Welsh Ambulance Service, Mid and West Wales Fire Service, Dyfed Powys Police, and the HM Coastguard. There was also support from the rail industry.
A Witness on One of the Two Trains Recalls the Accident
Meanwhile, Anthony Hurford, a passenger on the Shrewsbury-bound train, told BBC that he felt “pretty shell-shocked” after the accident.
“The word that keeps coming to my head is just brutal really,” Hurford explained. “Just going from, I don’t know how fast we were going, maybe 40, 50, 60mph (64-96km/h) , to nothing in the blink of an eye. Somehow my body bent the leg of a table and ripped it off its bolts attached to the wall. Suddenly I was on the floor with my laptop strewn ahead of me, wondering what the hell had happened.”
Hurford then stated, “He [the driver of the other train] tried to stop at the lights. At the top of the hill, there’s a signal that I guess would have been a passing place, and for whatever reason the train wouldn’t stop. There must have been 30/40 people from fire [service].”
Huford added, “There was British Transport Police who had come from Birmingham, there were three helicopters, people had come from north and south Wales as far as I’m aware. I was checked by three or four different medics.”