Police name rail crash victims

A CAR driver who caused the Berkshire rail crash in an apparent suicide was named by British police last night, as the first tributes were paid to the victims of the tragedy.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that 48-year-old Brian Drysdale, of Radstock Road, Reading, was behind the wheel of the car which drove onto the level crossing and derailed a First Great Western train near the village of Ufton Nevet.

The train driver who also lost his life in the crash was named as 54-year-old Stanley Martin, from Torquay.

It also emerged that a mother and daughter were among the other five who died in Saturday night’s collision. They were named as Anajette Rossi, 38, and Louella Main, nine.

The other victims were named by police as Barry Strevens, 55, of Wells, Somerset; Emily Webster, 14, of Moretonhampstead, Devon, and Leslie Charles Matthews, 72, of Warminster, Wiltshire.

As the names were released, it emerged that police were examining a mobile phone found near the crash scene thought to belong to Mr Drysdale.

It is understood that investigations are likely to focus on calls made on the telephone before the collision.

British Transport Police deputy chief constable Andy Trotter said yesterday that suicide was still being considered as a line of inquiry. “For that driver to drive on to the crossing and leave the vehicle there, obviously it is one line of inquiry,” he said. “But I want to emphasise that we haven’t closed our minds to other explanations.”

Mr Trotter refused to comment on whether Mr Drysdale was married or had children, and said that police were continuing to make inquiries into his background, and his actions in parking on the crossing.

As work to clear the scene began, the first tributes were paid to the victims of the crash.

The train drivers’ union Aslef said Mr Martin was “an extremely experienced and professional driver”.

The union said it was clear that Mr Martin had done everything possible to avert the accident.