[Sportschosun Jang Jong-ho] In the United Kingdom, two trains collided, killing one driver and injuring 90 passengers. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash, with a possible defect in the safety system of the stationary train emerging as a key focus.
According to local media outlets including the Daily Mail, around 5:15 p.m. on the 19th local time, a Luton Airport Express train struck the rear of an East Midlands Railway (EMR) train that had been stopped on the tracks near Kempston, between Bedford and Luton in the United Kingdom.
One driver on the Luton Airport Express train was killed in the accident. Eleven people suffered life-threatening injuries, while 22 others were seriously hurt and 56 sustained minor injuries, bringing the total number of injured to at least 89.
The deceased driver was identified as a man who had previously served as a union representative for the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers' Union (RMT).
Videos and photos taken shortly after the crash showed passengers with head and facial injuries, bleeding from their wounds. Some waited to be rescued with bandages wrapped around them or with severely swollen faces.
A doctor identified as Mr. A, who was aboard the train, said, "I was thrown forward at the moment of impact, and then I saw smoke." He added, "Many people were crying and screaming, and the carriage was filled with fear and confusion."
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) dispatched investigators to the scene and began determining the cause of the accident.
Investigators are focusing on the possibility that the Automatic Warning System (AWS) on the stationary train malfunctioned. AWS is a device that automatically applies the brakes to prevent accidents if a driver fails to notice a red signal.
Local reports said the driver of the stopped EMR train had been speaking with maintenance staff before the crash and reporting equipment problems.
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer said on social media, "I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the injured," and added, "I thank the rescue workers who responded quickly."
Jang Jong-ho bellho@sportschosun.com
