The parents of 11-year-old Jaiden Shehata are disputing official findings that he was distracted by his mobile phone when he was struck and killed by a 50mph train while walking to school, insisting railway authorities failed to make a dangerous footpath crossing safe — despite repeated warnings.
Jaiden was killed on 23 January near Kenley in south London, at the Bourneview footpath crossing — a site the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB)-report revealed had recorded at least six near misses over a five-year period. A proposal by Network Rail for safety lights to be installed had been recommended two years earlier, but the work has still not been completed and is only now scheduled for March next year.
Investigators said CCTV footage appeared to show Jaiden looking down at a bright screen, likely his iPhone, as he walked — and phone analysis suggested a short video clip was playing at the time. But his family reject the interpretation, saying the clip in question — sent by peers — would not have held his attention. His father, Jozif Shehata, said the boy’s death was “the result of neglect” by the rail authorities, calling the crossing “an accident waiting to happen”.
The crossing has no barrier or warning lights — despite being ranked among the top 15 highest-risk pedestrian crossings on the Sussex rail route. RAIB said the lack of active warning systems was a “probable causal factor”. Vegetation was also reportedly overhanging parts of the path, making visibility worse.
Jaiden, a Year 7 pupil at Riddlesdown Collegiate and a young church altar server and football fan, normally crossed later in the morning with his older brother. On the day he died he left home earlier — and arrived in the path of the London-bound rush hour service.
The family say safety upgrades would have cost less than £2 million and question why the crossing remained open after repeated risk flags. Network Rail and the regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), have expressed condolences. ORR said there was no evidence of a breach of safety law but said it would oversee the implementation of all recommendations issued to prevent future incidents. RAIB said it has been in contact with the family and will engage further to respond to their concerns.
Source:Africa Publicity
