Crash train driver 'not to blame'

Five passengers died when the train derailed at Ufton Nervet

The driver of a train which hit a car could on a level crossing have done nothing to prevent the crash, an inquest has heard.

Stanley Martin from Torquay, Devon, was killed when his 100mph train collided with the stationary car in Berkshire in November 2004.

The inquest at Slough heard it would have been impossible to stop the train to avoid the crash near Ufton Nervet.

The car driver and five passengers were also killed.

The train driver could have done nothing to prevent the incident John Tilly Railway Inspectorate

The jury was told that a report by John Tilly, a railway signal engineer employed by the Railway Inspectorate, concluded that the cause of the crash was the presence of the Mazda car on the line.

The report by Mr Tilly, who gave evidence, found the level crossing was working and the signalling in the area operated as intended.

He said that the train performed as expected and the 54-year-old train driver applied the emergency brakes and was not exceeding the speed limit of 100mph.

He said: "The train driver could have done nothing to prevent the incident."

HIV test

The inquest had previously heard that chef Brian Drysdale, 48, who was in the Mazda car, was awaiting the results of an HIV test when the crash happened.

Results later revealed he did not have the disease.

Barry Strevens, 55, from Wells, Somerset; Emily Webster, 14, from Morehampstead, Devon; and Anjanette Rossi, 38, from Speen, Berkshire, and her daughter Louella Main, nine, were killed in the crash.

Leslie Matthews, 72, from Warminster, Wiltshire, died in hospital the following day.

The inquest continues.