Train crash driver's tragic death

Robert Morgan, whose conviction for the manslaughter of passengers in the train crash in Surrey in March, 1989, was quashed on appeal, died despite the heroic efforts of passers-by to drag him out of the water.

An inquest into 66-year-old Mr Morgan's death recorded an accidental verdict after hearing how he fell overboard while trying to repair an outboard motor while on a river at the Isle of Wight.

The retired railman, from Meadow Way, was the driver of the Littlehampton to London Victoria train when it went through a red light and crashed into the Horsham to Victoria service.

Quashed conviction

He initially admitted the manslaughter charge after five people were killed and more than 80 were injured.

Mr Morgan was jailed for 18 months, 12 of which were suspended, in September, 1990.

The term was reduced to four months on appeal in October, 1990.

However, his convictions were quashed just two years ago, when new evidence emerged that the signal at the centre of the case had been passed on red many times.

Mr Morgan drowned in March this year after wobbling and falling off the dinghy on the back of his 34ft yacht, Kamilla Girl.

Live-saving attempts

US tourist Julian Martin and his wife pulled Mr Morgan onto a pontoon with the help of passers-by but despite resuscitation attempts, he could not be saved.

Readings showed the water was between six and eight degrees centigrade.

A post mortem revealed he drowned.

Coroner John Matthews ruled the death was an accident.

Friend's tribute

Tony Squires, former Littlehampton mayor, was a guard on the train.

He said it was a tragedy the train driver died so soon after the closure of the 1989 case.

"I think the case affected him deeply.

"He took as much of it on his shoulders as he could but I am sure it had a huge impact on him personally."

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