Eight passengers are still fighting for their lives in hospital following a two-train collision near Bedford on Friday, British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed in an update on Monday. As of 22 June, 53 people remain hospitalized, with eight in a critical condition.
Crash details and casualties
The crash occurred at around 5:15 pm on Friday, 19 June, near Bedford. One train rear-ended another, killing the driver of the second train, Shaun Burton, a 60-year-old East Midlands Railway driver. Over 100 people were injured: 11 sustained very serious injuries, 32 were seriously hurt, and 57 suffered minor injuries. Passengers described scenes of panic, with people crying and screaming, and carriages covered in blood.
Ongoing hospital care and investigation
BTP stated: 'We can confirm that eight people remain in a critical condition in hospital today (22 June), following the train crash close to Bedford on Friday evening (19 July). Over 100 people have received treatment at hospital. 53 of those remain in hospital today and eight are in a critical condition. These numbers are changing frequently and are likely to continue to change as the week moves forward.'
An investigation into the cause is ongoing, led by BTP's senior investigating officer in cooperation with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch. A temporary road has been built alongside the track to aid the complex recovery process. BTP is also working to return personal property to affected passengers and urges anyone who was on the trains and has not yet spoken to police to come forward.
Tributes to the driver
Shaun Burton, a former bus driver who joined the railway seven years ago, was described as dedicated and popular by colleagues. Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers' union Aslef, said: 'We are all heartbroken by the death of Shaun Burton which leaves a hole in the lives of his family, friends, and colleagues, which will never be filled. Shaun, a driver at East Midlands Railway, joined the railway relatively late in life. He loved public transport – he used to work on buses and coaches – before he became a train driver seven years ago. He was dedicated to the job, and devoted to his colleagues and enormously popular at his depot. The railway family grieves his passing; no-one should go off to work in the morning and not come home. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Cundy of BTP added: 'First and foremost, the thoughts of everyone at BTP are with the driver Shaun Burton’s family and colleagues, and all those injured and affected by the collision on Friday. This is a priority investigation for BTP and our experienced senior investigating officer is working closely with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to establish the full circumstances.'
