Driver 'ignored' safety signals

The men were due to begin work on farmland near Charlton

A 25-year-old man accused of driving a minibus into the path of an express train on a level crossing ignored safety features, a court has heard.

Adnan Kadir Karim, 25, is charged with three counts of manslaughter in connection with the collision on the unmanned crossing in Worcestershire.

The prosecution allege that Mr Karim steered the minibus on to the level crossing "in total disregard for the safety of his passengers".

Mr Karim denies the charges.

The court heard Mr Karim had been driving a white van carrying migrant workers when it was hit by a London-bound train travelling at 90mph.

He simply drove straight on to the line regardless or heedless to the risks involved, with the tragic consequences that followed Christopher Millington QC

Soran Karim, a 23-year-old Iraqi, Satish Kumar, 28, from India, and Islam Uddin Ahmed, 46, from Bangladesh, were killed.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday Christopher Millington QC said that Mr Karim, of Carpenters Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, ignored safety features at the crossing designed to allow people and vehicles to pass safely.

These included an underpass, stop signs and a phone linked to the signal box at Evesham.

"This defendant, we say, had no regard at all to any of these safety features, he simply drove straight on to the line regardless or heedless to the risks involved, with the tragic consequences that followed.

Blood stains

"He ignored...the track leading to the underpass and the large red stop sign and he didn't, of course, stop his vehicle and make that critical phone call, that the notice directs you, to call the signalman to see whether it is safe to cross.

"We say this is a case of manslaughter by criminal negligence."

The court heard Mr Karim had persistently denied being the driver, but Mr Millington told the jury that forensic evidence would be submitted supporting the prosecution's case that he was behind the wheel.

This, he said, included blood stains in the driver's footwell and fibres matching the defendant's distinctive multi-coloured fleece which were found on the driver's seat.

The trial continues.