British Transport Police mentioned it was ‘solely by means of luck’ that no one was killed by Erkan Mehmet’s actions (Image: British Transport Police)
A driver who derailed a London Overground practice after falling asleep on the wheel has been jailed.
Erkan Mehmet was answerable for the practice on October 12 2021 when he pulled in to platform two at Enfield City, the tip of the road.
Nonetheless, the 44-year-old did not cease and crashed into the buffers, inflicting the entrance carriage to return off the tracks and get caught at an angle about 5 ft within the air.
Round 50 passengers have been on board the carriage on the time, with some reporting minor accidents and shock.
Mehmet was breathalysed and not using a end result, however a urine pattern examined constructive for cocaine.
In an interview with detectives, he mentioned he had by no means taken medication and had fallen asleep on the wheel as a result of he had solely slept for a few hours the earlier night time.
The British Transport Police mentioned the drug had most likely entered Mehmet’s system within the 24 hours earlier than the crash.
He pleaded responsible at Inside London Crown Courtroom to endangering the security of the railway, and was sentenced to 16 weeks in jail earlier as we speak.
The practice bumped into the buffers at Enfield City station (Image: PA)
Detective Constable Gemma Littlewood mentioned: ‘Practice drivers are entrusted with the security of each passenger onboard so it’s frankly unthinkable that Mehmet turned as much as work in a situation which left him falling asleep on the wheel, placing all of them in vital hazard.
‘It is just by means of luck that no one was critically injured or worse, killed, because of his actions that day.
‘Investigators have labored intently with Arriva Rail London, who absolutely supported the investigation, to make sure he has been introduced earlier than the courts to face justice and whereas incidents like this are uncommon, we’ll proceed to relentlessly examine anybody suspected of placing passengers at risk and maintain them to account.’
Paul Hutchings, managing director at Arriva Rail London, mentioned: ‘We take the security and safety of our prospects and colleagues extremely critically.
‘We now have a zero-tolerance coverage for medication and alcohol, which exceeds business requirements, and the driving force concerned was instantly suspended following the incident and subsequently dismissed after returning a constructive take a look at end result.’
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