Investigators found that the signal almost certainly led Brandon Hatcher to enter while the exit gate was closed; signs and missing road markings failed to guide him.
Brandon Hatcher, 23, was killed when a passenger train struck his stationary delivery van at Bax crossing near Teynham, Kent, on 13 July 2025. Three passengers reported minor injuries.
In its completed investigation, published on 9 November 2026, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found that a green light almost certainly led Hatcher to believe he could enter after opening the first gate, while the exit gate remained closed. Signs and the lack of road markings did not effectively guide him through the correct procedure.
RAIB investigations aim to prevent future accidents and improve railway safety. They do not establish blame or liability or conduct prosecutions.
The findings follow an earlier warning after a delivery driver was seriously injured at Frognal Farm crossing in Kent in October 2017. When RAIB published its investigation in August 2018, its then-chief inspector called for crossings to be managed with users’ needs and expectations in mind.
At Bax, road users must open gates on both sides of the tracks themselves. The signs instruct them to check for a green light before opening both gates, again before driving across and once more before closing them. Green means no train is approaching; when a train is detected, the light turns red and an alarm sounds.
Hatcher, from Ashford, was self-employed and delivering Amazon parcels on behalf of logistics company GG Logistix. RAIB found that his training and guidance had not prepared him to use the crossing safely. It also found that the project introducing new signs had not sufficiently considered how different sources of information affect users’ behavior.
After Hatcher entered, his van stopped across most of the track and the light turned red. He tried to open the exit gate, but initially did not open it far enough to pass. He tried again and was returning to his van when the train appeared,
The train was traveling at 90 mph when it came into view 300 meters away. RAIB put its speed at approximately 71 mph (114 km/h) at impact.
RAIB found that once Network Rail had installed miniature stop lights, further upgrades at a crossing became unlikely, leaving safe use dependent on people understanding and obeying signs. It made four recommendations:
The recommendations do not themselves change the law. The Office of Rail and Road says it assesses responses and tells RAIB what measures have been taken or why none are being taken. The regulator also said it would ensure lessons are learned and improvements made to protect crossing users, passengers and railway staff. Chief inspector Andrew Hall urged railway duty holders, the home delivery industry, the regulator and the Department for Transport to find effective ways to mitigate the risk before another tragedy.
Chief inspector of rail accidents Andrew Hall said most road users are unfamiliar with these crossings and how to use them safely. He said the crossings now operate amid denser, faster rail services, more rural housing and abundant home deliveries. He warned that a train striking a delivery van can derail, putting people aboard at risk as well.
Another delivery driver, Simon Gettings, 55, was killed when a Northern train hit him at a manually operated crossing in Lancashire in August 2026. The circumstances remain under investigation.
David Davidson, chief operating officer of South Eastern Railway, said the operator had already changed the Bax site layout and published a toolkit on this type of crossing for professional drivers. He said the operator would study the recommendations closely and continue working with industry partners to prevent similar accidents.
The order bars covered US financial institutions from making transfers involving MEXC and takes effect 30 days after Federal Register publication. Treasury alleges MEXC facilitated at least $16 billion in transactions linked to sanctions evasion, cybercrime and other illicit activity.
2 min
The International Atomic Energy Agency said a drone attack killed 1 employee of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. It separately reported that a drone also killed 1 employee of a nearby thermal power plant.
1 min
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a rise from 1 December, rather than 1 January 2027, adding about €24 a month after tax and bringing monthly take-home pay to around €1,502. A decree is due shortly.
1 min
