Man Electrocuted on Train

[Coxster]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6406533.stm

Electrocuted man 'not prankster'

A man who was electrocuted while on the roof of a freight train in Manchester is not believed to have been "train-surfing", police said.

The 26-year-old man from Burnage died when he touched 25,000-volt power lines while on top of the train.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it was not thought the man was taking part in a prank when he was hit by the volts near Manchester Piccadilly station.

It is thought he may have been trying to hitch a free ride.

Stopped at signal

Transport police said they are not treating the incident as suspicious. Emergency crews responded to reports of a small fire on Thursday night at the back of the freight train.

A BTP spokesman said: "A short time later a body was discovered on top of a container on board the freight train.

"Fire Brigade, paramedics and officers from BTP attended and the body of a male was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Officers from BTP are investigating the circumstances surrounding this fatality."

Police believe the man got on the train when it stopped at a signal in Levenshulme.

The spokesman added: "As the train was approaching Piccadilly Station this male has come into contact with overhead power lines.

"BTP are still investigating the reason why the male got on to the freight train. However at this stage it is not believed to be a prank that has gone wrong."

 

[Gizmogle]

Hitch a free ride? :???: By jumping on a freight train? That's not suspicious? :???:

 

[mbonwick]

I agree with Gizmogle.. I would certainly treat it as suspicious, possibly even criminal.

Oh and btw I would also certainly consider a prank until ruled out.

 

[Ascot]

Nice way to get those freight line coverage

 

[DescendingSadly]

I agree with Gizmogle.. I would certainly treat it as suspicious, possibly even criminal.

Oh and btw I would also certainly consider a prank until ruled out.

That's a bit 'Iron Fist' approach considering you do not know the whole story, it could of been a homeless man, a drunk, a junkie etc etc.

I'm not condoning what they have done but classing him as a criminal seems a bit....I don't know, he's obviously paid the price

 

[mbonwick]

I'd chase him as a criminal, not for doing that, but for the trespassing he will have committed.

 

[Ascot]

I'd chase him as a criminal, not for doing that, but for the trespassing he will have committed.

Bit hard to get him talking though eh?

 

[Coxster]

I very much doubt he had a valid ticket either... :roll:

 

[Ascot]

I very much doubt he had a valid ticket either... :roll:

Laugh if they send him an UFPN, wouldn't suprise me though.

 

[Dennis]

I know it's a bit daft to do it, but is it actually illegal to ride a freight train?

 

[Max]

I know it's a bit daft to do it, but is it actually illegal to ride a freight train?

I would have thought it was classed as trespassing.

 

[Gizmogle]

How did he manage to jump onto the top of the train anyway?
He must of had it planned or something because you don't just turn upto a station and manage to jump straight on top of a train...

 

[Dennis]

But aren't the laws of trespass a bit arcane; I recall reading about a case some years ago where a 'trespasser' went into someones house through an unlocked door and just sat on the sofa. He could not be removed or prosecuted or removed as he had not committed any offence (eg theft or criminal damage). If he had turned on the lights or telly, theft would have been committed, but he just sat there, doing nothing and could not be persuaded to move for many hours.

I'm still not convinced that if I stepped off of a platform onto a slow moving container flat and had a ride without causing any damage or endagering anyones safety that I could be prosecuted.

 

[Craig]

I agree with Gizmogle.. I would certainly treat it as suspicious

Not being suspicious means no one else was involved - i.e. he wasn't murdered, he was just being a ****.

How did he manage to jump onto the top of the train anyway?
He must of had it planned or something because you don't just turn upto a station and manage to jump straight on top of a train...

It says it was a container train stopped at a signal, they're about platform height so would be pretty easy to step on. I guess he then climbed onto a container and got a bit of a shock (sic)...

 

[Kris]

That's the trouble with this country nowadays - no personal responsibility.

A few years ago a kiddy was injured in a freight yard after climbing through a broken/vandalised fence. Railtrack were successfully prosecuted for not keeping the fence maintained

Down to the parents again - scroats breeding more scroats ... ad-infinitum.

 

[87015]

It says it was a container train stopped at a signal, they're about platform height so would be pretty easy to step on. I guess he then climbed onto a container and got a bit of a shock (sic)...

Scarily, its not that unheard of for 'people' to be climbing on freight trains, seen it myself multiple times at Stechford a few times, believe Edge Hill is another 'hot spot'...

 

[Respite]

The person who did this was an idiot,sorry I have no sympathy for people like this.His dumbass actions caused major delay to the rail network in that area affecting thousands of passengers.Our Cardiff to Man Picc services got hammered by this as they had to obviously isolate the OHLE & even though we run 175/158's ours were all stuck behind leckys all over the place.

 

[Mojo]

But aren't the laws of trespass a bit arcane; I recall reading about a case some years ago where a 'trespasser' went into someones house through an unlocked door and just sat on the sofa. He could not be removed or prosecuted or removed as he had not committed any offence (eg theft or criminal damage).

Trespassing in general is not illegal - it is a civil matter and you can be sued for it, not prosecuted or fined in a criminal court. However there are a few places where it is a criminal offence to trespass and you can be fined or punished. The railways being one, and MoD sites being another I can think of.

So technically, when you see the sign "Trespassers will be prosecuted" (except on the railway) - it is not correct, and should read "Trespassers will be sued."

 

[WessexWarrior]

Down to the parents again - scroats breeding more scroats ... ad-infinitum.

Quite literally.

This whole story is really very weird. Two cases of mysterious deaths in two days. Hmm.

 

[class 313]

Well, This "Man" Found the cheap way, but didn't find the exit, maybe it tells people not to ride on freight trains, also. Craig, they are not platform height, empty ones are below and full wagons are way above, so he must of jumped from a bridge...

 

[devon_metro]

Shame :roll:

 

[Craig]

Craig, they are not platform height, empty ones are below and full wagons are way above, so he must of jumped from a bridge...

Must he? Perhaps they're not exactly platform height but they're about the same, the bit covering the bogies certainly are. It's quite plausible that he stepped onto the wagon from the platform, as I've already said :roll:

 

[class 313]

Must he? Perhaps they're not exactly platform height but they're about the same, the bit covering the bogies certainly are. It's quite plausible that he stepped onto the wagon from the platform, as I've already said :roll:

Wasn't he found on top of a container?

 

[CosherB]

Perfect example of Darwinism in action.....

CS

 

[Craig]

Wasn't he found on top of a container?

Did you not read my post, or are you just retarded?

It says it was a container train stopped at a signal, they're about platform height so would be pretty easy to step on. I guess he then climbed onto a container and got a bit of a shock (sic)...

 

[class 313]

Did you not read my post, or are you just retarded?

Oh my,

I'm gunna walk away now ^^

 

[Haveaniceday]

Trespassing in general is not illegal - it is a civil matter and you can be sued for it, not prosecuted or fined in a criminal court. However there are a few places where it is a criminal offence to trespass and you can be fined or punished. The railways being one, and MoD sites being another I can think of.

So technically, when you see the sign "Trespassers will be prosecuted" (except on the railway) - it is not correct, and should read "Trespassers will be sued."

Ummmm - Private Prosecution?

 

[Nick W]

But aren't the laws of trespass a bit arcane; I recall reading about a case some years ago where a 'trespasser' went into someones house through an unlocked door and just sat on the sofa. He could not be removed or prosecuted or removed as he had not committed any offence (eg theft or criminal damage). If he had turned on the lights or telly, theft would have been committed, but he just sat there, doing nothing and could not be persuaded to move for many hours.

I'm still not convinced that if I stepped off of a platform onto a slow moving container flat and had a ride without causing any damage or endagering anyones safety that I could be prosecuted.

Sounds like theft of fuel, and if you were spotted they ought to be able to sue you for delays.

 

[Darandio]

That's the trouble with this country nowadays - no personal responsibility.

A few years ago a kiddy was injured in a freight yard after climbing through a broken/vandalised fence. Railtrack were successfully prosecuted for not keeping the fence maintained

Down to the parents again - scroats breeding more scroats ... ad-infinitum.

Something sort of similar happened near Ferryhill Sth Jtn a few years back. Some coal hoppers were in the sidings and a kiddy jumped in and was killed by the overhead wires. When the police arrived at the parents house to break the news the father attacked the policeman blaming him for what had happened.

 

[Mojo]

Ummmm - Private Prosecution?

How can you bring around a private prosecution for something that isn't a criminal offence?