Caution sign on window in rail passenger tragedy
PENARTH An investigation into the death of a woman who died after leaning out of a train window has found there was a warning sticker below the window at the time of her death. Bethan Roper, 28, from Penarth, died on the Great Western Railway train near Twerton in Bath on December 1. Miss Roper’s head was out of the window of a door when it was struck by a tree branch as the train travelled at 85mph. A preliminary investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found that a yellow “Caution” label above the door said “Do not lean out of window when train is moving”. The door was fitted with an opening window to enable passengers to access the handle on the outside. Miss Roper was on board the London Paddington to Exeter service while returning to Penarth from a Christmas shopping trip with friends. The incident happened at 10.04pm and she was pronounced dead at Bristol Temple Meads station shortly after 10.10pm.”