Train crash driver died from traumatic injuries

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Train crash driver died from traumatic injuriesImage source, British Transport PoliceImage caption, Shaun Burton died in the train crash near BedfordPublished14 July 2026, 10:00 BSTUpdated 2 minutes agoA train driver died from traumatic injuries to the brain and chest in the Bedfordshire train crash, an inquest has heard. Shaun Burton, 60, died when his train ploughed into the back of another service at Elstow, near Bedford, on 19 June. It left 162 people injured, including 102 who required hospital treatment.

An inquest into the death of the driver opened in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and has been adjourned until a later date which has not been fixed yet. Senior Coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, Emma Whitting, told the hearing the inquest would be adjourned pending reports from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and British Transport Police. Burton lived in Cambridgeshire and previously been a parish and district councillor, representing The Stukeleys ward on Huntingdonshire District Council.

The Details

During the hearing, which lasted five minutes, the coroner's officer read a statement which said a consultant pathologist identified the cause of death to be traumatic injuries to the brain stem and chest, pending further investigations. Burton was pronounced dead at the scene at 18:49 BST on 19 June. He was formally identified by the Fingerprint Identification Bureau on 25 June, the coroner's report said.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the News App.

You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X, external to get the latest alerts.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.