A man in his 40s died after being struck by a train following his escape from a custody van travelling from Stevenage police station on the A1(M) motorway.
The incident took place on Thursday, 28 May, near Welwyn North station. British Transport Police and Hertfordshire Police responded promptly and launched a search operation.
Police confirmed the man broke out of the custody van shortly after 9am while it was on the motorway. During the escape, an altercation inside the vehicle resulted in two transport staff members being injured and taken to hospital.
At around 9.40am, officers found the man’s body on railway tracks just south of Stevenage. Formal identification is still pending, but Hertfordshire Police have informed the family.
Hertfordshire Police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and are preparing a file for the coroner. A police presence remains in the area as inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Both Hertfordshire Police and British Transport Police confirmed the death and reassured the public that investigations are ongoing. Safety measures remain in place around the area to protect the public.
Originally published by UKNIP.
