A person has died and as many as 50 have been injured after two trains collided near Bedford on Friday afternoon. The horror collision occurred at around 5:15pm, involving an East Midlands Railway service from Nottingham to St Pancras International and a Corby to St Pancras service. British Transport Police confirmed: 'A number of people have been injured and one person has very sadly died.'
Passengers Describe Chaos
Dr Pete Knapp, a passenger on one of the trains, said: 'There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.' He added that he saw people with 'life-threatening, major injuries' and that he had blood on his trousers. Another passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Telegraph: 'It feels like the carriage that we were in was picked up and shaken like dice.' She described panels falling from the ceiling, seats collapsing, and suitcases falling onto injured passengers.
Emergency Response
Dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene. All lines between Luton and Bedford are blocked. Videos from the scene show injured passengers covered in blood, with the rear driver's compartment of the front train mangled and the door hanging off. Health Secretary James Murray confirmed that a number of people had been injured.
Investigation Underway
Train-tracking websites suggest the Corby train may have run into the back of the Nottingham train about 2.5 miles south of Bedford station. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. People have been asked not to attend local hospitals as medical staff treat the injured.
