Croydon tram crash: Victims "not unlawfully killed", inquest jury concludes
Seven passengers died and a further 51 were injured when the tram derailed in 2016.
Last updated 22nd Jul 2021
The victims of the Croydon tram crash died as a result of an accident, and were not unlawfully killed, the jury at the inquest into their deaths has concluded.
Seven passengers died and a further 51 were injured when a tram derailed in south London on November 9 2016.
Dane Chinnery, 19, Philip Seary, 57, Dorota Rynkiewicz, 35, Robert Huxley, 63, and Philip Logan, 52, all from New Addington, and Donald Collett, 62, and Mark Smith, 35, both from Croydon, were killed in the crash.
On its 10th day of deliberations at Croydon Town Hall, south London, the 10-person jury reached a unanimous conclusion that their deaths were a result of an accident.
The foreman of the jury at the inquest into the Croydon tram crash said:
"The tram driver became disorientated, which caused loss of awareness in his surroundings, probably due to a lack of sleep.
"As a result of which, the driver failed to brake in time and drove his tram towards a tight curve at excessive speed.
"The tram left the rails and overturned onto its right side, as a result of which the deceased was ejected from the tram and killed."
The victims' families will now call on the Attorney General Michael Ellis QC to apply to the High Court to grant a new inquest.
They will also seek to judicially review Ms Ormond-Walshe's decision on which witnesses to call.
Mr Logan's granddaughter, Danielle Wynne, told the PA news agency:
"I'm so upset and angry.
"It's not an accident. Someone is to blame.
"We want lessons to be learned so that no other family has to go through this."
Mr Smith's mother, Jean Smith, 64, said:
"I am bitterly disappointed as justice has not been done today.
"It has been a total farce as we have only heard half of the evidence and no-one who could potentially have been responsible for the crash has been called as a witness.
"It's morally wrong that we haven't been able to hear from anybody from TfL (Transport for London), TOL, or the driver during the proceedings, whatever legal precedent says.
"It feels like they have been able to hide from giving evidence and it simply isn't fair or just. Justice has been suffocated because of the coroner's ruling."
The British Transport Police have released a statement.
Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said:
“Today (22 July) the jury in the Croydon tram crash Inquest have returned their verdict and concluded that seven people were accidentally killed in November 2016.
"While the Inquest process has now concluded, the memory of that tragic day is one that will stay with us forever as an organisation.
"Throughout this, the seven men and women who died, along with their loved ones, and everyone else affected by that terrible day, have remained at the very forefront of our minds. They will never be forgotten.”
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