Tram operator sued over e-scooter rider death

The family of a teenage e-scooter rider who died after being hit by a tram in south London are suing a transport operator for negligence, seeking damages in excess of £200,000.

They claim Reuben Abakah, 19, was visible to the tram driver "well before" he crossed the tracks where he was hit by a London Trams service in Croydon on 22 August 2022. He died in hospital from his injuries three days later.

The furniture delivery worker had his hood up and did not slow down as he entered Waddon Marsh West footpath crossing at the same time as the tram, which was travelling at 37mph (59.5km/h).

The defendant, Tram Operations Limited (TOL), declined to comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.

In a case filed at London's High Court, representatives of Abakah's family claim the tram driver failed to keep a "proper lookout" or recognise the "developing hazard" as the 19-year-old approached the crossing.

She did not operate the tram at a safe speed in the circumstances or use its audible warnings or brakes effectively, according to the family.

According to documents filed with the court, the driver first sounded her warning bell two seconds before the collision, and her horn 1.4 seconds ahead of the crash, which was too late to be "acted upon".

The sound level emitted by the bell was below the recommended level, according to the document.

She applied the service brake – used during normal operations – 0.8 seconds before the collision, and the hazard brake 0.1 seconds later.

The speed limit for trams using the crossing has since been reduced from 43mph to 31mph.

The teenager's father, Frederick Woode, said his wish was "lessons are learned from this".

He went on: "I know nothing can bring Reuben back, but I believe the tram should not have been travelling as fast as it was."

The family's lawyer, Ben Posford of Osbornes Law, said it "shouldn't have mattered" that Abakah "didn't look properly".

"You have to have health and safety measures in place that account for human error, that account for zoning out," he said.

No legal action is being brought against the tram driver.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk