TfL criticised after man killed on Tube track in police search

TfL criticised after man killed on Tube track in police search

Robert English met a tragic fate while attempting to flee from the police in London. The inquest revealed that he was electrocuted and subsequently run over by a London Underground train near Colindale station. The incident occurred in May 2024, with Senior coroner Andrew Walker criticizing Transport for London (TfL) for their “inadequate” response.

It was noted that the TfL staff had initially disabled the power supply in response to reports of a fight and Mr. English walking along the tracks. However, the power was later restored after a misunderstanding led police to believe that Mr. English had exited the premises. Subsequently, a Tube train on a search operation accidentally ran over Mr. English, leading to his untimely demise.

Despite efforts by TfL to collaborate with law enforcement and reevaluate their operational procedures, the incident raised questions about the adequacy of the response and search protocols. The coroner emphasized that the search train was ill-prepared for operation in the dark, ultimately resulting in a tragic outcome for Mr. English. It was also highlighted that TfL’s failure to inform all relevant parties before restoring the power supply may have prevented a proper search that could have rescued Mr. English.

Following the investigation, it was determined that no further inquiry was necessary, according to the police watchdog. However, TfL was urged to implement a comprehensive plan to prevent similar incidents involving intoxicated passengers after an unrelated accidental death in a Tube tunnel. Moving forward, TfL expressed condolences to Mr. English’s loved ones and pledged to carefully review the coroner’s recommendations to enhance the safety of the transportation network. Similarly, the Department for Transport stated that they would assess the coroner’s recommendations for the prevention of future deaths

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