Friday, May 29, 2026 -A man in his 40s who was being transported to court has died after escaping from a prison custody van and being struck by a train near Welwyn North railway station, an incident that triggered major disruption and an ongoing police investigation.
According to Hertfordshire Police, UK, the man was being
conveyed to court by a contracted transport service when the vehicle stopped on
the hard shoulder of the A1(M) shortly after 9am on Thursday, May 28.
Shortly after, an altercation reportedly broke out inside
the van, during which two security staff were injured before the detainee
managed to escape from the vehicle.
Police said an extensive search was launched immediately
after the escape, involving multiple emergency units and coordination with
British Transport Police. About 40 minutes later, officers were called to
reports of a casualty on the railway tracks near Welwyn North station, where
the man was found dead.
A police spokesperson confirmed: “Shortly after 9am today, a
man aged in his 40s who was being conveyed to court by a transport contractor
escaped from the vehicle… An area search followed, with multiple resources
deployed.” They added that formal identification had not yet been completed,
but the man’s family had been informed.
Two custody staff were taken to hospital following injuries
sustained during the incident. The case has been referred to the Independent
Office for Police Conduct, as is standard procedure in incidents involving
detainee transport and custody-related deaths.
Train services across the region, including Thameslink and
LNER routes, were delayed for several hours, with knock-on disruption affecting
commuters across Hertfordshire and surrounding areas while investigations and
recovery operations took place.
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