Michael Bovell
PFD Report
Historic (No Identified Response)
Ref: 2015-0248
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The RSSB Rule Book's provisions for stopping trains are insufficient, prioritizing potential train damage over human life. Even cautioned trains can strike individuals, highlighting a gap in preventing harm to trespassers on the line.
View full coroner's concerns
That the RSSB Rule Book allows trains to be stopped only in circumstances where a person who has trespassed onto the line person may cause damage to a train, but does not allow for trains to be stopped where the person may be in danger from a train other than to stop the train to place the train on caution That the train travelling been cautioned and reduced its speed still struck Mr Bovell
Sent To
- Rail Safety and Standards Board
Response Status
Linked responses
0 of 1
56-Day Deadline
24 Aug 2015
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On the 22nd April 2015 ! opened an inquest touching the death of Michael Anthony Bovell 22 years old. The inquest concluded on the 26" June 2015_ The conclusion of inquest was "open", the medical case of death was Ia Multiple Brain Injuries
Circumstances of the Death
On the 12*h April 2014 Michael Bovell at about 8.4Spm was in & car with two other people when he phoned the police to report a suicide initially telling the operator he was at Enfield Lock but was corrected by persons with him that he was at Brimsdown Rail Station_ Bovell left the car and scaled the fence and made his way onto the railway line_ The train driver was contacted by the signaller at Brimsdown Work Station him of a suicidal man in Brimsdown area. The driver was instructed to proceed at caution and slowed his train to 15 mph: The train driver failed to see Mr Bovell who was struck and run over by the train. Had the train been stopped by the signaller; (which is not permitted by the RSSB Rule book in these circumstances) , rather that the train driver being instructed to proceed on "caution" , the collision would not have occurred, the Mr telling the
Her Majesty's Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London (Harrow; Brent; Barnet; Haringey and Enfield)
Her Majesty's Coroner for the Northern District of Greater London (Harrow; Brent; Barnet; Haringey and Enfield)
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you [ANDIOR your organisation] have the power to take such action.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.