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Journalism of Courage
UK police began a detailed investigation today into a high-speed train crash which killed six people and injured many more. A train with 300 passengers ploughed into a car at a level crossing in southern England yesterday.
Transport Secretary Alastair Darling promised a thorough investigation. ‘‘This is clearly a very serious accident and my deepest sympathies are with those affected.’’
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter of British Transport Police said it was ‘‘remarkable’’ so many had escaped alive. ‘‘It is quite remarkable…if you look at the scene…that so many managed to escape from such an awful event,’’ he said.
‘‘Crime officers are now combing the site looking for evidence to find out what happened,’’ Trotter said. He promised a ‘‘meticulous investigation’’ into the crash.
There was no indication that infrastructure failure or railway staff were responsible for the crash, in a country where rail safety has been a political issue since a series of deadly crashes followed the industry’s privatisation in the 1990s.
Rail analysts said the train from London’s Paddington station to Plymouth in western England would have been travelling at 100 miles per hour as it approached the crossing.
Police said one of the six killed was in the car, the train driver was another of those killed. Among the scores injured, 11 were severely injured. —Reuters
