A man was struck and killed by a high-speed train after fleeing from a custody vehicle that was transporting him from a police station to a court hearing, according to police.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, broke free from the vehicle while it was stationary on the A1, Hertfordshire Police and British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed in a joint statement.
Following his escape, BTP officers conducted a search of the surrounding area, during which they discovered a casualty on the tracks close to Welwyn North railway station.
Two members of staff from a transport contractor were also taken to hospital during the escape attempt after “an altercation in the van,” though neither is believed to have sustained serious injuries.
Formal identification of the body is yet to take place, although police have confirmed that the man’s family has been informed of the incident.
The escape took place at approximately 9am on Thursday, the force confirmed. Hertfordshire Police has since referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and a file has been passed to the coroner.
Local resident David Elsdon, 82, who lives near the railway station, said he had never witnessed such a large police presence and described the incident as “a bit of a shock.
“We were just out the front ready to leave for the town and inundated with a number of police cars coming along,” he told the BBC.
“I think we passed 10 in total before we got out on to the main road.” A police spokesperson confirmed in a statement that inquiries are under way “to establish the full circumstances and officers will remain in the area while initial investigations continue”.