Croydon tram derailment: Tram was travelling at a 'higher speed than is permitted', say investigators

Jamie Bullen9 November 2016

Investigators say the tram which derailed killing at least five people was travelling at a "significantly higher speed than is permitted".

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the tram derailed as it was negotiating a "sharp, left-hand curve" with a speed limit of 12 mph.

A spokesman said: "Initial indications suggest that the tram was travelling at a significantly higher speed than is permitted."

It comes as tram passengers spoke of their horror after they likened the crash to "something out of a film".

Transport for London said it was urgently investigating to identify what went "catastrophically wrong".

"Carnage": Five people are confirmed dead after the tram derailed near Sandilands 
BBC/ITN

London’s Transport Commissioner Mike Brown said: “I am devastated for the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured.

“Clearly something has gone catastrophically wrong and we will work tirelessly and quickly with the emergency services, the tram operator First Group and others to establish a cause.”

Police confirmed five people are dead and more than 50 were injured when the tram overturned near Sandilands station on Wednesday morning.

Crash: The tram derailed in Croydon
PA / Sky News

The tram driver has been arrested.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan raised fears the death toll could further rise after he said the number of fatalities "may well increase".

Sources at the scene said as many as eight people were feared dead.

A spokeswoman for London Ambulance Service confirmed eight people have serious or life-threatening injuries.

Major incident: Emergency vehicles at the scene
Carl Court/Getty Images

Passengers told of their horror as they were sent “flying” as they likened the crash to “something out of a film".

Martin Bamford, 30, from Croydon described the scene as “total carnage”.

Speaking outside Croydon University Hospital, where he is being treated for fractured or broken ribs, Mr Bamford said: "It was just terrifying."

"There was a woman that was on top of me. I don't think she made it at all. She wasn't responsive. There was blood everywhere."

Concerned: Sadiq Khan visits the scene of a tram crash in Croydon
PA

Asked about the driver, he said: "I asked him if he was okay. He said 'yeah'. I said to him 'what happened?' He said he thinks he blacked out."

Kudirat Okesola, 46, rushed to her husband's side as soon as she heard he had been caught up in the incident.

Taiye Ajibola, who was on his way to work, was "very anxious", Ms Okesola said, adding that there was a lot of blood.

The tram tipped on its side as it navigated a sharp bend
LBC

"Even my husband was covered with blood," she said.

Ms Okesola said some people were trapped underneath the tram calling for help.

"People were screaming. People were crying," she said.

She said her husband has a "massive" cut on his face.

The Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said the "vast majority" of people have been discharged from the hospital or transferred elsewhere for ongoing care.

Patients were also taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting where three people are undergoing surgery.

Croydon Tram derailment

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Dr Phil Moss, the clinical director of the hospital's emergency department, said: "We plan for events such as this evening though they are very rare - maybe once in every two years.

"This is clearly a traumatic event. We have psychologists working with us in the emergency department who will speak to patients prior to discharge."

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