LONDON — Nine people are still fighting for their lives following a deadly train collision that occurred Friday near Bedford, a town approximately 60 miles north of London, where the driver of one of the trains was killed.
The crash happened at roughly 5:15 p.m. local time on Friday, when two passenger trains — both heading toward London — struck each other. The driver of one of the trains did not survive, dying at the scene of the collision.
On Saturday, British Transport Police Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi provided an update on the victims. She confirmed that more than 80 people had been taken to hospitals Friday night.
“As of this morning, 28 remain in hospital, and nine are in a critical condition,” D’Orsi said, adding that investigators are actively working to determine the cause of the accident.
Video footage shared on social media by a passenger aboard one of the trains showed what appeared to be the crumpled front end of one train locked into the rear of the other, though the rail cars themselves remained upright.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to social media platform X to call the event a “devastating incident.”
Buckingham Palace also released a statement on behalf of King Charles, saying: “His Majesty is greatly saddened by the rail crash in Bedford yesterday evening and is being kept regularly updated on developments. His thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident.”
