Twenty-One People Injured In Train Crash
20/08/2010
Twenty-one people have been injured, two seriously, as a train derailed in a crash with a lorry on a level crossing in Suffolk on the 17th of August at approximately 5.30pm. The two-carriage passenger train collided with a sewage tanker in Little Cornard, in Sudbury.
The train driver is thought to be one of two seriously hurt. The 38-year-old driver of a tanker appeared in court on the 20th of August charged with endangering safety on the railway. Arvydas Bartasius, of Cambridgeshire, appeared before Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court and was remanded on conditional bail until 1 October.
Two people who had been trapped on the train suffered life-threatening injuries. Two others also suffered injuries which were less serious. British Transport Police have confirmed one person remained in intensive care. The train driver suffered suspected fractured vertebrae and was being treated at Colchester General Hospital.
It appears that the level crossing was on private land and had a locked gate on it. Anyone wanting to go across the level crossing was required to call the signaller to raise the gates. However Network Rail had not received any calls prior to the crash.
Irwin Mitchell has a long history of dealing with rail incidents. Our specialist team of lawyers has successfully recovered compensation for the victims of many high-profile rail accidents including the Cumbrian rail crash, Hatfield rail crash and Paddington rail crash.
If you or someone you know has been affected by this or a similar incident, our experts may be able to help. Fill in our online claims form for free legal advice.
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