Bedford train crash latest: Injury toll rises to 100 as investigators look into cause of collision
East Midlands Railway and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch are looking into the cause of the Bedford crash
By Alex Croft
The injury toll of a rail crash near Bedford on Friday evening that killed a driver has risen to 100, with nine people still in a critical condition.
Authorities are investigating the fatal crash, in which one train collided into the back of another on the same line shortly after 5pm.
The East of England Ambulance Service said 11 people sustained very serious injuries, 32 were seriously injured while another 57 people suffered minor injuries.
King Charles has said he is “greatly saddened” by the incident and is being kept regularly updated on developments.
He said “his thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident”, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson added.
Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, recalled: “There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.”
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as “hugely concerning” and said he is “grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident”.
Were you impacted by the train crash in Bedford? Email holly.bancroft@independent.co.uk.