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Train death Katie Littlewood 'did not look' at crossing Train death Katie Littlewood 'did not look' at crossing
(about 4 hours later)
A shocked train driver saw a teenager "walk out without looking" moments before she was struck by the London to Cambridge train, an inquest has heard.A shocked train driver saw a teenager "walk out without looking" moments before she was struck by the London to Cambridge train, an inquest has heard.
Katie Littlewood, 15, of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, died instantly at the town's Johnson's Footpath Crossing on 28 January 2012.Katie Littlewood, 15, of Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, died instantly at the town's Johnson's Footpath Crossing on 28 January 2012.
Hertfordshire Coroner's Court heard she appeared to think the route was clear.Hertfordshire Coroner's Court heard she appeared to think the route was clear.
An iPod and phone were found nearby, although it was unclear whether Katie was listening to music at the time. Coroner Edward Thomas said he suspected Katie had been listening to her iPod, which was found nearby.
'Visibly shaken''Visibly shaken'
The inquest heard she been exchanging text messages with friends minutes before her death, and had been discussing having her ears pierced with her sister. Katie's father Simon Littlewood said it was "not typical" of her not to pay attention and asked for the family's sympathies to be passed on to the driver.
He told the hearing he wanted the death "to act as a warning to everybody" and stressed that "the trauma caused to everybody else is substantial".
The inquest heard Katie had been exchanging text messages with friends minutes before her death.
The driver of the train repeatedly asked in the aftermath of the accident: "Why didn't she look?", the inquest in Hatfield heard.The driver of the train repeatedly asked in the aftermath of the accident: "Why didn't she look?", the inquest in Hatfield heard.
Steven Trumm told an off-duty police officer, a passenger on the train that morning, that Katie only turned around at the last minute, when it was too late. Steven Trumm told an off-duty police officer, a passenger on the train, that Katie only turned around at the last minute, when it was too late.
The inquest was told Mr Trumm was "visibly shaken and in a state of shock" as he said to the police officer: "She just walked out without looking.The inquest was told Mr Trumm was "visibly shaken and in a state of shock" as he said to the police officer: "She just walked out without looking.
"She's a young girl about my daughter's age, about 20 or 21."She's a young girl about my daughter's age, about 20 or 21.
"It's the second time it's happened to me.""It's the second time it's happened to me."
He was clear that Katie was not trying to take her own life and added: "There's no way she could have survived that."
'Audible warning''Audible warning'
Katie's father Simon Littlewood, attending the hearing with her 18-year-old sister Sarah, asked for the family's sympathies to be passed on to the driver. As instructed by Mr Thomas, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
Coroner Edward Thomas has instructed the jury the only verdict they can return is one of accidental death. He said: "Everything I read about Katie was that she was a lovely girl.
They are expected to return later. "She was obviously doing extremely well.
"I suspect she had her earphones in and I suspect she wanted to get on."
Signs at the crossing warned pedestrians it was only safe to cross when there was a green light.Signs at the crossing warned pedestrians it was only safe to cross when there was a green light.
There was also what the coroner described as "an audible warning", but he added: "Of course, if people have earphones they won't hear it."There was also what the coroner described as "an audible warning", but he added: "Of course, if people have earphones they won't hear it."
All warning systems were operating correctly at the time of Katie's accident.All warning systems were operating correctly at the time of Katie's accident.
A footbridge, which had been discussed following a woman's death at the crossing in 2002, was installed after the crossing closed at the end of last year.A footbridge, which had been discussed following a woman's death at the crossing in 2002, was installed after the crossing closed at the end of last year.