Croydon tram crash driver cleared over derailment that killed seven people
The driver of the Croydon tram that derailed more than six years ago, killing seven people and injuring 19, has been found not guilty of failing to take “reasonable care”.
Alfred Dorris, 49, was accused of having a “micro-sleep” or becoming disorientated before the crash on November 9, 2016.
The court heard the tram was going at three times the speed it was supposed to before it derailed on a sharp curve at Sandilands in Croydon.
Mr Dorris, from Beckenham, denied a single charge of failing to take reasonable care at work under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
At the Old Bailey today, Mr Justice Fraser sent the jury out and they returned fewer than two hours later with a unanimous verdict following the prosecution brought by the Office of Road and Rail (ORR).
The people who died were 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.
Speaking publicly about the crash for the first time, Mr Dorris apologised to the victims’ families and survivors during his tearful evidence at the Old Bailey.
He said: “I’m a human being and sometimes as a human being things happen to you that you are not in control of.
“I’m sorry that I became disorientated. I’m sorry I was not able to do anything to stop myself from becoming disorientated.
“And I’m deeply sorry I was not able to do anything to reorientate myself and stop the tram from turning over. I’m deeply sorry.”
The granddaughter of one of the victims of the crash described the not guilty verdict as “deflating”.
Danielle Wynne, 32, whose grandfather Philip Logan, 52, was killed in the crash, told PA: “My grandad and this incident will never be forgotten. It’s a date that’s etched into my mind. Our family feels truly let down by the justice system.”
Transport for London (TfL) and Tram Operations Limited (ToL) have previously admitted health and safety offences relating to significant failings ahead of the catastrophic derailment and will be sentenced at a later date.
A spokesman for the ORR said: “We conducted an extensive, detailed and thorough investigation and took the decision to prosecute Transport for London (TfL), Tram Operations Limited (TOL) and driver Alfred Dorris for what we believed to be serious health and safety failings relating to the Croydon Tram derailment.
“The trial of Alfred Dorris concluded today, we note the decision reached and will consider this appropriately.
“Transport for London (TfL) and Tram Operations Limited (TOL) entered guilty pleas in 2022 and will be sentenced at a later date. Our thoughts remain with those affected by the tragedy.”
Pictured top: Alfred Dorris has been cleared (Picture: PA)