Shirebrook man's train death mystery

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Shirebrook man's train death mystery

By Staff Copy

MYSTERY surrounds the death of a Shirebrook man who was killed after

being struck by a train.

Owen (27), of Byron Street, suffered skull fractures in

the collision and was found beside the track off Sookholme Road at

7am on New Year's Day.

An inquest was told yesterday that he had last been seen alive at

11am on 31st December last year.

Post-mortem examination tests revealed he had not been drinking and

a police investigation found no evidence he had intended to take his

own life.

His mother told the Chesterfield inquest he suffered from Asperger's

Syndrome & #8212; a mild form of autism.

She said: " He did live in a world of his own sometimes. We will

wonder why he was down there, but we firmly believe it was an

accident. "

Pc Malcolm Dobson, of British Transport Police, said Mr ' body

was spotted by train driver Ian , who was travelling north on

the Nottingham to Worksop line.

Signalman

" His train did not make contact with the deceased, " Pc Dobson

said. " He stopped and informed the signalman at Shirebrook and

walked back to the scene.

" It was still dark at the time. He shone a torch on the body, which

was intact with blood on the face. "

Pc Dobson said the previous train along that route passed the scene

at 10.30pm on 31st December.

The train was examined and no trace of a collision was found on it

or any other trains using the line.

" The reason for the deceased being at the scene has not been

established, " Pc Dobson added.

" There is no evidence of him intending to harm himself or take his

own life. "

No-one was known to have witnessed the collision and Mr , who

died from multiple head injuries, was not recorded by surveillance

cameras at Shirebrook railway station.

North Derbyshire coroner Tom said: " We can't find out any

more, I'm afraid. We know he was hit by a train, but why it happened

we can't say. There is no evidence he intended it. "

He recorded a narrative verdict of death from injuries sustained

when hit by a train.

Last Updated: 11 March 2008 4:01 PM