Tram crash relatives demand new inquest

BOSSES running Croydon’s trams should have been called to give evidence, the victims’ families said, after a jury found safety failings contributed to the crash which killed seven people.

After a two-month inquest, relatives demanded a new hearing as the jury said the crash was an accident, rejecting calls to conclude those who died were unlawfully killed.

They found the driver, Alfred Dorris, had a microsleep and became disorientated in the Sandilands tunnel in south London in November 2016 before hitting a sharp bend at nearly four times the speed limit and derailing.

Seven people died and 19 suffered serious injuries in the worst accident on a British tramway in more than 90 years. In a written narrative, the jury criticised Tram Operations Limited (TOL), which runs the network and employed Mr Dorris, who was too unwell to give evidence. They said TOL, a subsidiary of Firstgroup, had a risk-assessment system that “failed to sufficiently identify the risk of the tram overturning and crashing” at the “tight” Sandilands curve. They said the culture meant drivers were “discouraged from reporting health and safety concerns”.

Only now can it be reported that Sarah Ormond-walshe, south London’s senior coroner, rejected pleas by lawyers for relatives to call managers at TOL and Transport for London (TFL), which owns the infrastructure, to give evidence.

Jean Smith, the mother of Mark Smith who died, said she was “bitterly disappointed justice has not been done” after company bosses were allowed to “hide” behind the coroner’s ruling.

Matthew Gregory, chief executive of First Group, said it had “fully engaged” with all investigations and implemented recommendations. The families will ask the Attorney General to apply to the High Court to grant a new inquest.