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| Croydon tram crash driver cries giving court evidence about arrest | Croydon tram crash driver cries giving court evidence about arrest |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tram driver Alfred Dorris denies a single charge of failing to take reasonable care at work | Tram driver Alfred Dorris denies a single charge of failing to take reasonable care at work |
| The driver of a tram which crashed killing seven people has broken down in tears in court as he described his arrest. | |
| Alfred Dorris is on trial over the derailment on 9 November 2016 in Croydon, south London, which also seriously injured 19 others. | Alfred Dorris is on trial over the derailment on 9 November 2016 in Croydon, south London, which also seriously injured 19 others. |
| It is alleged he was driving at three times the speed limit when his tram left the tracks on a sharp bend. | It is alleged he was driving at three times the speed limit when his tram left the tracks on a sharp bend. |
| Mr Dorris, 49, denies failing to take reasonable care at work. | Mr Dorris, 49, denies failing to take reasonable care at work. |
| Giving evidence for the first time in his trial, he told the Old Bailey he was "broken"when he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the tram toppled over with 69 passengers on board. | Giving evidence for the first time in his trial, he told the Old Bailey he was "broken"when he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the tram toppled over with 69 passengers on board. |
| "I was told that I was being arrested for manslaughter because of multiple fatalities," he told the court. | "I was told that I was being arrested for manslaughter because of multiple fatalities," he told the court. |
| "I was broken. I could not believe what I was hearing." | "I was broken. I could not believe what I was hearing." |
| Mr Dorris, from Beckenham, south-east London, became distressed in front of victims' families and wiped away tears as he described being put in the back of a police van after the crash. | Mr Dorris, from Beckenham, south-east London, became distressed in front of victims' families and wiped away tears as he described being put in the back of a police van after the crash. |
| The tram was carrying 69 passengers when it derailed | The tram was carrying 69 passengers when it derailed |
| Later he told the court: "I could not explain how it happened." | |
| Mr Dorris said, of the weeks after the crash: "I was just all over the place, just broken, disbelief at what had happened." | |
| He also said he had been "proud of" of his job and enjoyed it. | |
| The prosecution alleges he may have had a "micro-sleep" while driving the tram. | |
| 'Passed out' | |
| Asked by his defence barrister if he had any problems with fatigue, as he started work very early in the morning, Mr Dorris replied: "No, never." | Asked by his defence barrister if he had any problems with fatigue, as he started work very early in the morning, Mr Dorris replied: "No, never." |
| Asked what he would have done if he had felt tired before a shift, he said: "I could have just explained I was not feeling fit to work and they would sign me off." | |
| The trial previously heard passengers were "flung around" as if in a washing machine after Mr Dorris attempted the sharp bend near Sandilands tram stop. | The trial previously heard passengers were "flung around" as if in a washing machine after Mr Dorris attempted the sharp bend near Sandilands tram stop. |
| After the tram fell on its side, Mr Dorris was heard by passengers to say he must have "blacked out" or "passed out", the jury was told. | After the tram fell on its side, Mr Dorris was heard by passengers to say he must have "blacked out" or "passed out", the jury was told. |
| The seven passengers who were killed were Dane Chinnery, Donald Collett, Robert Huxley, Philip Logan, Dorota Rynkiewicz, Philip Seary and Mark Smith. | The seven passengers who were killed were Dane Chinnery, Donald Collett, Robert Huxley, Philip Logan, Dorota Rynkiewicz, Philip Seary and Mark Smith. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
| Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Croydon | Croydon |
| London | London |