Driver dead and dozens injured as two trains collide – witness details horror

Two trains have collided in the Bedford area, British Transport Police (BTP) have said, and one person has sadly died.

The deceased has been confirmed as one of the train drivers, Dave Calfe, general secretary of Aslef the train drivers’ union said.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue crews are attending the scene just south of Bedford, alongside paramedics, multiple air ambulance crews and police officers. Aerial footage of the aftermath shows two damaged East Midlands Railway (EMR) trains with most carriages on the tracks – but at least one looks shunted off.

The service confirmed the trains involved were the 4.40pm East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras and the 3.50pm Nottingham to London St Pancras service. The collision happened just south of the Elstow interchange between the A421 and the A6, at approximately 5.15pm today.

Eleven people suffered “very serious” injuries, 22 were seriously injured and 56 more had minor injuries.

Passenger Peter Knapp told BBC News he was in the front carriage of one of the trains involved in the crash, and described seeing “bloodied faces” and “smoke everywhere” in the aftermath. He also recalled to PA hearing people “crying, screaming”.

He 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. I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin, I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.”

Have you been affected or have you witnessed the incident? Contact us at livenews@reachplc.com.

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