RUNAWAY TRAM
Croydon tram was ‘speeding excessively’ after arrested driver ‘blacked out’ – as passengers tell of terrifying moment it crashed killing at least seven
A DRIVER arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a speeding tram overturned, killing at least seven people and leaving 51 in hospital was reportedly asleep at the wheel.
Witnesses recounted the "carnage" with reports that the driver, 42, may have blacked out before the two-car tram overturned near a tunnel in Croydon about 6am as torrential rain battered London.
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has warned the death toll might rise after the horrific crash, with the initial death toll of five growing to seven with a number of passengers still in a critical condition.
Martin Bamford said the tram "flipped", adding the driver told him: "I think I blacked out."
27
27
The dad of four said: "When we were coming through the tunnel we were going at some speed and the tram was speeding up more and more.
"We were coming out of the tunnel and we hit the bend way too fast and the tram flipped.
"It was extremely frightening, people were screaming and shouting for help."
The gutter cleaner from New Addington, southeast London, said the crashed tram, mostly full of commuters, left people covered in blood, suffering from broken legs and head injuries.
He said: "When it flipped everything went flying, people were on top of me.
"There was blood everywhere and belongings and shoes.
"It was absolute carnage."
He said he rushed to try to open the doors and to help victims of the crash: "I was shouting at the driver to open the doors.
"When we got out I asked the driver if he was okay and what happened and he just said to me 'I think I blacked out'."
He added: "It was like something out of a movie, you just wouldn't expect it.
"I was trying to help as many people as possible and I was shouting to people that could walk that they should come through the open door."
27
27
Another passenger claimed the tram seemed to speed up and the driver looked like he was sleeping.
Martin Harris, who was on his way to work, called mum Jane after the crash to tell her what had happened.
She said: "My son was on the tram I had spoke to him for a few seconds and he said that the tram driver was going really fast it looked like the driver had fallen asleep, the next thing he new the tram had derailed and gone over."
Jane added that she was going to visit Martin in hospital after he was admitted with four broken ribs, damaged back and neck, and a bad head.
Rhys McCausland, 19, recounted the horror crash, saying his head was crushed against the ground as the tram windows smashed behind him.
The teen said: "There was nothing unusual going on the tram. I had my headphones in sitting there in he middle. Going to Sandilands through the tunnel there was nothing unusual either. We go very fast through there on a regular basis.
"I didn't notice we were coming to a corner because I wasn't really paying attention. The next thing I knew the tram was rolling over on its side. There was no attempt to brake or anything like that.
"I rolled on my back. The glass has smashed behind me and my face rolled over the gravel. I was quite lucky not to be trapped like the others."
He said the passengers were caught in the dark with rain pouring down on the wreckage.
He said: "I could feel the blood dripping and I was in total shock about what happened.
"I have been getting on that tram nearly every day for four years. To realise it's on its side in pitch black you can't really believe it. Having no way out is the hardest."
27
British Transport Police said at least seven people had died with Deputy Chief Constable Adrian Hanstock saying: "This is a tragic incident and our hearts and thoughts go out to all those affected.
"When officers arrived on scene this morning shortly after 6am, they were met with a complex and challenging situation."
He said officers were now working with other agencies to continue their investigations, with the 42-year-old driver from Beckenham now arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and is currently in police custody.
He said: "Our officers will continue to work tirelessly throughout the evening to formally identify them and provide care and support for their families.
"Identifying those who have died can be a complex and lengthy process and we want to ensure we get this right."
Five people were trapped originally but firefighters managed to rescue some of them using specialist cutting tools.
The crowded rush hour train tipped on its side next to an underpass near to Sandilands tram stop.
Shocking pictures show the overturned tram dangerously close to a row of houses.
Transport for London commissioner Mike Brown said he was "devastated" for the families and friends of those killed in tragedy.
He said: "Clearly something has gone catastrophically wrong and we will work tirelessly and quickly with the emergency services, the tram operator FirstGroup and others to establish the cause."
27
27
27
The tragic deaths make the incident the worst rail incident in 12 years since the Ufton Nervet rail crash.
Seven people, including the drivers of the train and car, were killed and 71 were injured when a London to Plymouth service collided when motorist Brian Drysdale committed suicide by parking on a level crossing.
related stories
Rui De-sa, 31, was one of the walking wounded who was taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, south London.
His wife Susana Gaiao, 35, said: "I don't think he's up for talking, he's too shook up.
"It was my husband who called me to tell me as soon as the accident happened, he was in so much shock.
"He was okay but obviously some people were seriously injured.
"He could see one person trapped and heard a lot of cries and screaming.
"He was one of the few who were taken to St George's Hospital - where all the people with minor injuries went."
27
27
She continued: "We all had to wait in the relatives room where all the police were, trying to reassure us.
"My husband was just on his way to work, he gets the same tram every morning, he's a creature of habit like that."
The overturned tram remains on its side next to an underpass and appears to have derailed where the track branches.
27
Relatives of those injured still face an anxious wait for news on their condition as slammed hospitals deal with dozens of patients.
Worried mum Jane Harris, who is frantically trying to an update from Croydon University Hospital, said: "They are not giving any information out for about an hour, my son was on that tram and they won't even say if he is there.
"I phoned the hospital again because I've been waiting over an hour for them to call me.
"They said the police there will call people to let them know if they are there."
British Transport Police are urging concerned friends or family to call the Casualty Bureau on- 0800 056 0154.
THE FIRST TRAM CRASH SINCE 1959
Today's derailment is believed to be the first tram crash involving fatalities on board since 1959, when two women passengers and the driver died after a tram caught fire in Shettlestone Road, Glasgow, following a collision with a lorry.
London's only tram network operates in the south of the capital, from Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction, Elmers End and New Addington, via Croydon.
More than 27 million passengers used the service in 2015/16.
The system uses a combination of on-street and segregated running for the 17 miles (27km) of track.
Witness Hannah Collier said she heard a "massive crash" outside her window and saw people being carried away on stretchers.
She told the : "I was in bed watching the election when I heard a big crash, which I though was the wind.
"Then I heard people shouting and then the emergency services arriving.
"Later I saw at least one person being brought out on a stretcher."
The Metropolitan Police tweeted: "Officers on scene with other emergency services in Addiscombe Road #Croydon after tram overturned at approx 06:10hrs."
27
London Fire Brigade Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Andy Roe, who is in charge of the incident for the Brigade, said: “Firefighters have released a number of people and two people remain trapped. All the emergency services are working closely together to help those involved in this incident.”
Peter McKenna, Deputy Director of Operations at London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 6.13am to reports of a tram derailment at Addiscombe Road in Croydon.
“We sent 22 ambulance crews, 12 officers, and two advanced paramedic practitioners to the scene, alongside our hazardous area response team, who are trained to provide emergency medical care in hazardous areas such as confined spaces or where there may be hazardous materials.
27
“Two trauma teams from London’s Air Ambulance and a command support vehicle were also dispatched.
“We have treated a number of patients at the scene and took 51 patients to hospital. Twenty were taken to St George’s University Hospital and 31 to Croydon University Hospital.
“We remain on scene, supporting our emergency service colleagues as they deal with this incident.”
27
27
A Transport for London spokesman said: “We are currently working with the emergency services following a derailment involving a tram in Croydon.
“There is currently no service on the tram between Reeves Corner and Addington Village / Harrington Road.”
James Long, who lives metres away from the scene of the incident, told the : "It happened on a sharp bend on the approach to Sandilands tram stop.
"I've never seen so any emergency services attend a scene."
Tributes have been paid to the now seven people who died in the horror crash.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said at the scene: “As a result of a serous tram derailment this morning there have been a number of fatalities.
"Five people had sadly died. We think that number may well increase.
"Fifty one people were taken to two different hospitals this morning.
"A hot line has been set up for worried family and loved ones.
"We are in the recovery stage of the operation.
27
"I would like to pay tribute to the hard working emergency services who will be working long after it becomes dark.
"My prayers are with the families and their loved ones today.
"An investigation has been launched and an arrest has been made and we must let that take its course."
Prime Minister Theresa May has offered her condolences, saying: "My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected by this terrible incident which has taken place on a tram in Croydon.
"The emergency services are on the scene, and they are working on the scene treating casualties. And the Government is closely in touch with the emergency services and other authorities to ensure that all is being done that is necessary to deal with this terrible incident."
WORST TRAIN DISASTERS IN THE UK
No passengers have been killed in a rail crash for almost a decade. Here are some of the worst:
February 23 2007 Grayrigg, Cumbria - A faulty set of railway points caused a train to derail from the track and down a side bank.
One killed, 86 injured.
November 6 2004 Ufton Nervet, Berkshire - The train hit a car deliberately parked on the tracks in a suicide attempt by the car driver.
Seven killed, 120 injured.
February 15 2004 Tebay, Cumbria - A runaway work trolley carrying 16 tons of steel with faulty brakes ran over track workers. Two railways bosses were found guilty of manslaughter
Four killed, three injured.
May 10 2002 Potters Bar, Hertfordshire - An undetected fault on the line derailed the train, with the carriage coming to rest on the platform.
Seven killed, 76 injured.
February 28 2001 Great Heck, Selby - A Land Rover driver fell asleep at the wheel, running down the embankment onto the railway track where the 4x4 was hit by two trains. The car driver survived, and was later jailed for five years for causing death by dangerous driving.
10 killed, 82 seriously injured.
October 17 2000 Hatfield, Hertfordshire - A cracked rail resulted in the derailment of a train travelling at 115mph; one coach hit overhead lines stanchion.
Four killed, over 70 injured.
October 5 1999 Ladbroke Grove, London - Despite the signal indicating danger, the driver continued resulting in a head-on collision and fire.
31 killed, 523 injured.
January 8 1991 Cannon Street, London - A passenger train crashed into a buffer when pulling into the station at a slow speed.
Two killed, 542 injured.
December 12 1988 Clapham Junction, London - A signalling failure caused a rear-end collision, with an oncoming train crashing into the wreckage.
35 killed, 484 injured.
November 5 1967 Hither Green, London - A fractured rail was attributed to the 70mph crash of a Hastings to Charing Cross train. It happened just a mile from the Lewisham crash a decade previously.
49 killed, 78 injured.
December 4 1957 Lewisham, London - Heavy fog caused a train to miss a red signal and collide with another passenger train with an overhead bridge falling on the wreckage.
90 killed, 173 injured.
October 8 1952 Harrow and Wealdstone, London - A train ignored signals then collided with a stationary train while another travelling in the opposite direction hit the wreckage.
112 killed, 340 injured.
September 30 1945 Bourne End, Buckinghamshire - An error saw an overnight sleeper from Scotland to London derail in front of a signal box.
43 killed, 64 injured
May 22 1915 Quintshill, near Gretna Green in Scotland - A train travelling from Larbert to Liverpool collided with a stationary local train. A minute later the wreckage was hit by sleeping car express train and a fire engulfed all three trains and two more standing locomotives.
226 killed, 246 injured
Do you have any information about the tram crash? Call Holly Christodoulou on 0207 782 4383 or email [email protected]