A collision between two trains near Bedford on Friday afternoon resulted in the death of one train driver and left 89 passengers injured, emergency services have confirmed. The incident occurred around 17:15 GMT when one train, which had reportedly stopped on the tracks just south of Bedford, was struck by another.

Passengers described scenes of panic and distress in the aftermath of the collision. The East of England Ambulance Service reported that 11 individuals sustained very serious injuries, with an additional 22 suffering serious injuries. Many others were treated for less severe wounds.

Eyewitness accounts paint a vivid picture of the impact. One passenger, Brett Byatt, a teacher from Bedford, told the BBC that people were "flying from their seats." He described seeing individuals with severe injuries, including a woman who had "completely snapped her leg" and another unable to move due to a back injury. He also noted a man on the floor who couldn't move his neck, with other passengers attempting to keep him still.

Simon Bentley, traveling with his wife, noted that the train "braked really hard which seemed odd." Byatt corroborated this, stating the train's deceleration was unusual for that stretch of track. East Midlands Railway (EMR) confirmed the two trains involved were the 16:40 service from Corby and the 15:50 service from Nottingham, both en route to London St Pancras.

Teresa Itabor, on her way to celebrate her birthday, boarded one of the trains at Wellingborough. She recounted a "massive bang" shortly after leaving Bedford station and hitting the seat in front of her. Upon opening her eyes, she saw "people on the floor with blood everywhere."

Another passenger, Dr. Peter Knapp, described the scene as feeling "like I'd been in a bomb explosion." He recalled seeing "people's bloodied faces and people's legs looked broken and there was smoke everywhere." Shola Mene also described the moment of impact as a "big bang."

The cause of the collision is currently under investigation. Rail accident investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading up to the crash, including the operational status of the trains and the signaling system at the time of the incident.

This incident raises immediate concerns about rail safety protocols and the infrastructure in the region. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses and more details emerge from the scene.