A man in his 40s died after being hit by a train near the A1(M) in Hertfordshire on Thursday, May 28, 2026. He had escaped from a custody van that was stationary on the motorway, according to a joint statement from British Transport Police and Hertfordshire Police.
The incident occurred when the man, who was being transported from a police station to court, managed to flee the vehicle. The van was operated by a transport contractor. Police were called to the scene after reports of a person on the railway line near the A1(M) at around 10:30 AM.
Emergency services attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The train driver was treated for shock. The incident caused significant disruption to rail services in the area, with trains delayed or cancelled for several hours.
An investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the escape and the subsequent collision. The police have stated that the incident is not being treated as suspicious, but they are reviewing the procedures of the transport contractor.
