Boy killed on rail crossing ‘distracted by phone’

An 11-year-old boy who was hit and killed by a train at a level crossing is believed to have been distracted by a video on his mobile phone, an investigation has found.

Jaiden Shehata was walking to school on 23 January when he was struck by a Southern train travelling at 50mph (31km/h) at the Bourneview footpath crossing near Kenley in south London, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said.

Like many footpath crossings, the site does not have warning lights or barriers and users are expected to stop, look, listen and decide when to cross.

Network Rail said it was taking “significant steps” to help prevent any similar deaths, including by installing safety features.

Investigators said CCTV footage appeared to show Jaiden walking towards the crossing, looking ahead and down at a “glowing object” almost certain to be the illuminated screen of a phone in his hands, with his coat hood pulled over his head.

Analysis of his phone suggests a video clip was playing at the time of the accident.

After seeing Jaiden start to cross the railway, the driver sounded the horn and applied the emergency brake. He looked up in response but did not have time to move clear before the train reached the crossing.

The RAIB said the accident happened because Jaiden did not perceive the risk associated with the train, probably because he was distracted by his phone.

Jaiden, a pupil at the nearby Riddlesdown Collegiate secondary school, had regularly used the crossing on his way to and from school since starting there in September 2024, the RAIB said.

Network Rail’s most recent risk assessment of the location in May 2023 documented six near misses between 30 November 2018 and 9 February 2023.

There was a previous death, in March 2020, which was recorded as a deliberate act.

The RAIB has recommended that curriculum setters for UK schools work with railway infrastructure managers to introduce “targeted and locally relevant railway safety lessons to pupils of all ages”.

It also made two recommendations for Network Rail, in partnership with industry body the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

The first was to make the dangerous area at level crossings more noticeable – particularly to people whose attention may be distracted – and the second was to consider whether different approaches to “risk mitigation” at the sites were needed for younger users.

An RSSB spokesperson said: “Ensuring safety at level crossings remains a key priority for RSSB and the rail industry, and we will be working collaboratively to consider and implement the RAIB’s recommendations.”

Lucy McAuliffe, Sussex route director for Network Rail, said: “There are no words sufficient to express our sorrow after such a loss.

“We are taking significant steps to help prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

“Following close work with Croydon Council, the crossing was temporarily closed on August 11.

“In December, we’ll be installing miniature stop lights to improve safety by providing a clear signal and warning sound to let people know when it is safe to cross.

“We are studying the RAIB report carefully and will act on its recommendations.”