Police Force Issues Apology to Family of Deceased Man From Train Collision
In a tragic incident in mid-Wales, a collision between two Transport for Wales trains resulted in the death of David Tudor Evans, a 66-year-old man. The incident occurred in Talerddig, near Llanbrynmair in Powys at 7.26pm on October 21. Following the collision, the British Transport Police (BTP), responsible for investigating the crash, initially failed to provide adequate support to the family. This lack of support led to a close family friend criticising the BTP, prompting the police force to issue an apology on Thursday.
According to a statement made to the PA news agency, the family friend highlighted the absence of necessary support for Rachel Evans, Mr. Evans’ wife, on the night of the incident. Despite an initial statement by the BTP on October 22 indicating that the family was being supported by specialist officers, it was revealed that a specialist officer only visited the family on October 23. The family also expressed objections to media reports speculating on the cause of death when the inquest had not conclusively determined it yet.
The BTP Superintendent, Andrew Morgan, acknowledged the miscommunication and apologised for any distress caused by their initial statement. He expressed public apologies to the deceased’s family during this challenging time. The inquest into David Tudor Evans’ death was commenced by Louisa Corcoran, assistant coroner for Ceredigion, at the Aberystwyth Justice Centre on Wednesday.
During the incident, in addition to the fatality, four individuals sustained serious injuries, while eleven others required hospital treatment. Investigators from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) suspect that slippery rails may have been a contributing factor to the collision. The RAIB’s findings suggested that low adhesion between the wheels and rails on the track approaching the collision point may have led to one of the trains sliding while braking, ultimately resulting in the crash.
As the post-mortem examination is ongoing, the inquest has been adjourned to allow the police investigation to progress further. The incident serves as a sombre reminder of the importance of railway safety measures and adherence to protocols to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring in the future.
This unfortunate incident underscores the critical role of authorities in providing prompt and comprehensive support to families affected by such tragedies. It is essential for investigative bodies to ensure clear communication and transparency throughout the process to alleviate additional distress during already challenging times.