Woman Killed by Tree Branch As She Leaned Out of Train Window

A 28-year-old woman was killed in Britain by an overhanging tree when she leant out of the window on a railway train traveling around 75mph, according to an inquest heard this week.

Bethan Roper, 28, was on a Great Western Railway (GWR) train traveling from Bath to her home in Penarth, Wales on December 1, 2018, the Press Association reported. Avon Coroners' Court heard Wednesday that Roper, who worked for the Welsh Refugee Council, was returning home from a day out Christmas shopping with friends.

The London Paddington to Exeter service had just left Bath Spa station for Bristol Temple Meads when Roper was struck, causing fatal head injuries leading to her death.

The court heard Roper was leaning out the window of a door when her head was hit by an ash tree branch growing next to the line. Despite other passengers giving her CPR, Roper was declared dead by ambulance staff at Bristol Temple Meads station.

"We established that one of the group of friends opened the window of the door and at least one other friend leant out of the window," Mark Hamilton, an inspector with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB), told the inquest.

"But around two and a half minutes after the train departed Bath Spa station, Ms Roper leant out of the window and a few seconds later she fell backwards having sustained a serious head injury.

Above the train door was a yellow sticker with the words "Caution- do not lean out of window when train is moving," the inquest heard. But Hamilton said there was no physical feature fitted to the train that stopped a passenger opening the window while the train was in motion.

"One of the causal factors was in relation to the warning signs and we concluded Ms Roper, as a passenger, was not deterred by these warning signs. Our report has concluded the warning sign on display complied with the railway group standard that was in force at the time," Hamilton said.

"However, the RAIB considers that wording, particularly the use of the word 'caution', suggests that perhaps leaning out is something that may be done with a degree of care. The yellow background is traditionally recognised as a characteristic of a warning sign, whereas red backgrounds may convey danger."

After a train passenger in London died in a similar incident in August 2016, GWR planned to install enhanced warning signs with a red background by May 2018, but this had not happened by the time Roper died, the inquest heard.

Hamilton said Network Rail had carried out inspections of the part of the line where the collision took place, but the tree was "not deemed to be a hazard."

Toxicology tests found that Roper had a blood alcohol level of 142mg in 100ml of blood— nearly twice the legal limit for driving.

A statement read to the jury on behalf of Roper's father, Adrian, described his daughter "an inspirational and much-loved woman," who worked at a food bank and did a lot of charity work.

Newsweek has contacted Roper's family for comment on the inquest, which is expected to last for around a week.