Fatal London tram crash caused by speeding, report says

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A tram that crashed in south London last week, killing seven people, was travelling at three and half times the speed limit.


An interim report found the Croydon tram was travelling at 43.5 mph in a 12 mph zone when it derailed on Nov. 9, the BBC reported. The trams are not fitted with an automatic braking system.


There were no defects or obstructions on the track, according to the report.
Driver Alfred Dorris, 42, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail. Investigators are trying to establish if he fell asleep or blacked out.


Seven people were killed in the crash and 51 others were taken to the hospital. The seven passengers who died ranged in age from 19 to 63. All of them lived in and around the Croydon area.


London transport authorities have offered to pay for the funerals of the victims.


The London Ambulance Service said eight of the 51 victims taken to the hospital were suffering from injuries that were serious or life-threatening.


The incident is the worst rail accident in the UK since 2002, when seven people died and more than 70 were injured in a high-speed rail crash at Potters Bar just north of London.


The Croydon tramlink system covers 17 miles of track in south London and served more than 27 million passengers in the past year.


RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Tram travels over speed limit; no safety mechanism to automatically apply brakes
2. Tram crashed; 7 dead and 51 injured
3. Depiction of tram driver falling asleep/blacking out


VOICEOVER (in English):


“An interim report found the Croydon tram was travelling at 43.5 mph in a 12 mph zone. The trams are not fitted with an automatic braking system.”


“According to the report, the evidence suggests there were no defects or obstructions on the track.”


“Seven people were killed in the crash and 51 others were taken to the hospital.”


“The 42-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Investigators are trying to establish if he fell asleep or blacked out.”


SOURCES: BBC, Guardian
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38...
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2...


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