At a Sept. 24 hearing, a coroner found 11-year-old Jaiden Shehata was distracted by his phone when a train struck and killed him on Jan. 23, 2025, at a crossing near Kenley, south London. The lack of warning signals also contributed to his accidental death.
Shehata was walking to school across the Bourneview footpath crossing when he was hit by a train traveling 50 mph. CCTV showed him crossing while focused on what appeared to be a phone. The train operator sounded the horn and used the emergency brake, but Shehata did not have time to get clear. The reported cause of death was severe neck injuries.
Network Rail said it would add stop lights and a warning signal to show when it is safe to cross. The crossing remains closed while the company engages with local schools before reopening.
