Alfred Dorris, who was driving the tram on Croydon’s Tramlink network when it left the rails at Sandilands in November 2016, has been found not guilty of failing to take reasonable care at work. The charges had been brought against him by the Office or Road and Rail following a lengthy investigation and led to a trial at the Old Bailey in June 2023.
During the trial evidence was heard on the accident which tragically saw seven people lose their lives and 19 others seriously injured. Dane Chinnery (19), Philip Seary (57), Dorota Rynkiewicz (35), Robert Huxley (63), Philip Logan (52), Donald Collett (62) and Mark Smith (35) died following the accident.
In the trial Mr Dorris gave evidence in which he said he couldn’t explain how the accident happened and that he had become disorientated and confused immediately before the tram left the rails.
The jury at the trial took less than two hours to find him not guilty of the charges.
The families of those who died expressed their disappointment at the decision with some calling for changes in the judicial system as a result.
Following the trial his lawyer Gary Rubin read a statement from Mr Dorris: “Unfortunately, that morning went horribly wrong and that was because of something I wasn’t in control of. I am truly and deeply sorry – it’s something that I am going to have to live with for the rest of my life, and I would just like to end by saying there are no winners in this case.”
Transport for London and Tram Operations Limited (operators of the network) have also been prosecuted by the ORR and have pleaded guilty to the charges under Health and Safety laws. They are due to be sentenced next month.