A man being transported to court escaped from a prison van and was subsequently killed by a train near Welwyn North station in Hertfordshire, causing travel disruption on Thursday morning.
Incident Details
The escape occurred shortly after 9am when the custody van pulled over on the hard shoulder of the A1(M) motorway. During an altercation inside the vehicle, the detainee, aged in his 40s, managed to flee. Two security guards sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Search and Discovery
Police launched an area search with multiple resources deployed. At around 9.40am, British Transport Police received reports of a casualty on the tracks near Welwyn North railway station. The escaped man was found dead on the tracks, 40 minutes after his escape.
Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the man's family has been informed. A file has been prepared for the coroner.
Witness Account
David Elsdon, 82, a local resident, described the heavy police presence as 'all a bit of a shock'. He told the BBC: 'We were just out the front ready to leave for the town and inundated with a number of police cars coming along. I think we passed 10 in total before we got out on to the main road.'
Police Statement
A Hertfordshire Police spokesman said: 'Police are currently at the scene of an incident close to Welwyn North train station, alongside colleagues from the British Transport Police. Shortly after 9am today, a man aged in his 40s who was being conveyed to court by a transport contractor escaped from the vehicle, which was stationary on the hard shoulder of the A1(M) carriageway.'
'An area search followed, with multiple resources deployed. Sadly, during the search, BTP officers were called at around 9.40am to reports of a casualty on the tracks near Welwyn North railway station. Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of the escaped man are aware. A file has been prepared for the coroner.'
'As a matter of protocol, the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct by Hertfordshire Constabulary.'
Travel Disruption
National Rail reported that Thameslink, LNER and Great Northern services, running from London through Hertfordshire, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, experienced delays. The line has since reopened, but cancellations are still expected.
The Ministry of Defence has been approached for comment.
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