Death of teenager on track between Weymouth and Dorchester, 23 March 2023

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Services through Weymouth have resumed following the death of a person.

The line between Dorchester South and Weymouth was closed from the early hours, affecting Great Western Railway and South Western Railway routes.

It has since reopened but travellers are being warned disruption is expected until about midday.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) said the death on the railway line in Weymouth was "currently being treated as unexplained".

A Network Rail spokesperson said: "Passengers are advised to check with their train operator for the latest information on alternative travel."

Routes affected:

    Great Western Railway routes between Gloucester / Bristol Parkway / Filton Abbey Wood / Westbury and Weymouth
    South Western Railway routes between London Waterloo / Southampton Central / Brockenhurst / Bournemouth and Weymouth

[bradshaw]

Sadly, later reported as the death of a 15 year old girl, with injuries consistent with electrocution. First reported at 02.25

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/23406100.emergency-leaves-no-trains-weymouth-dorchester/

[rogerw]

My thoughts are with family of the girl

[grahame]

My thoughts are with family of the girl

Follow up in The Metro.  Thoughts very much with the family; I would normally say "give them space to grieve" but perhaps with the detail in the article they want to let the world know about the young lady they have lost.

[bobm]

The day after this incident there was another trespass reported in the Weymouth area which required the emergency switch off of the traction current. 

[eXPassenger]

Very sad, but my concern was their request that everyone should know that the power was permanently on, I was surprised that they had not known this.

[grahame]

Very sad, but my concern was their request that everyone should know that the power was permanently on, I was surprised that they had not known this.

Indeed ... but even if 95% know, the message is worth emphasising for the other 5%.

[eXPassenger]

Very sad, but my concern was their request that everyone should know that the power was permanently on, I was surprised that they had not known this.

Indeed ... but even if 95% know, the message is worth emphasising for the other 5%.

I completely agree.

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

A 15-year-old girl was electrocuted on a railway line after communication failures involving police and the track operator, a report has said.

Police officers, responding to a trespass report in March 2023, told their control room they could not see anyone from a bridge.

Track power was then switched back on, despite the lack of a detailed search or oversight by police supervisors, Pan-Dorset Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (PDSCP) said.

and

She said the girl had previously used the track as a "short cut" and had not been warned of the dangers by authorities.

The teenager, given the pseudonym "Edie" in the report, had complex needs, Ms Holtom said.

She wrote: "Life became difficult for Edie, aged 13 years, following the death of her much-loved horse."

The teenager was excluded by all six mainstream schools in her area, drank to excess and used and sold drugs, according to the report.

In December 2022, Edie went to the railway station "with the intention of hurting herself".

A week before her death, she took an overdose but absconded from hospital.

The report said authorities missed opportunities to intervene following both incidents.

It said the lack of a suitable education for Edie prompted one professional to comment that she had been "set up to fail".

Oh dear ...

[Mark A]

Safeguarding provision for children (or adults) is very hit and miss, and set against a rising tide of need. Add alcohol to the mix and that in itself is a big problem.

Mark

[grahame]

From the Daily Mail

A mother has vowed to fight for justice for her 15-year-old daughter who was electrocuted on railway tracks, as the coroner says police failings may be to blame.

An inquest into the death of Roxy will be heard by a jury after the senior coroner said there was reason to suspect the acts or omissions of police were causative or contributory to her death.

Roxy died in the early hours of March 23, 2023 after she was electrocuted by the 750 volt third rail on the tracks near Weymouth train station.