Man killed when hit by oncoming train after pulling friend off tracks to safety, court hears

A man was tragically killed after being hit by an oncoming train while saving his friend from a railway line, a court has heard.

Patrick Kennedy, 49, from Cheetham, Manchester, was shirtless and drunk as he sat between the tracks near Prestatyn station.

His friend Keith Ford had also been drinking and tried to run him off the tracks as a train approached.

But he was struck by a “strong, oblique blow” from the Holyhead-Birmingham International train near Prestatyn station and sadly died at the scene on July 13, 2022, Mold Crown Court heard.

Kennedy denies manslaughter of his friend Mr. Ford. Although he admits to having entered the railway tracks without authorization, he denies having endangered the safety of the people who were there.

Mr. Ford was a friend of Kennedy’s younger brother.

Prosecutor William Hughes KC described Mr Ford and Kennedy as “acquaintances”.

Mr Hughes said: “The Crown alleges that Keith Ford and the accused had seen and were aware of the trains passing them as they walked along the railway line and were fully aware that they were on a railway track dangerous and in working order.

“To access the edge of the track, they had to pass a sign clearly indicating that they were prohibited from going there.

“The accused admits that he was entering the railway tracks once he passed this sign.

“It also follows that the deceased was also in breach.”

Mr Ford’s partner, Vicki Rice, was renting a semi-permanent caravan at Greenacres and Sunny Sands Caravan Park in Shore Road, Prestatyn, North Wales.

On July 13, 2022, Mr Ford and Kennedy traveled in a white van from Urmston, Greater Manchester, to the caravan park, arriving at 2.57pm.

The couple spent several hours drinking and talking with other RVers.

Then they headed to a children’s play area and video arcade, it was said.

They walked past the playground toward the rear of the trailer park and a shirtless Kennedy walked through a locked gate to walk along the railroad tracks and Mr. Ford followed, the prosecutor said.

As the two men sat on the lawn, a Holyhead-bound Maesteg train passed them.

Then the international service from Holyhead to Birmingham arrived at 5.05pm, traveling at 62mph.

Mr Hughes said Kennedy heard and saw him and decided to sit in the four-foot space between each rail “for a laugh”, joking to Mr Ford that he would “take the train for the beach.”

The train’s driver, Timothy Maloney, applied the emergency brakes as the train rounded the curve.

Mr Hughes added: “The prosecution alleges the defendant saw an oncoming train and deliberately sat down between the railway tracks as the train approached.

“Keith Ford then attempted to drag or pull the defendant off the tracks and to safety, and out of the path of the oncoming train from Holyhead to Birmingham International.

“While moving the defendant out of the path of the oncoming train, Keith Ford was fatally struck by the locomotive.”

Mr Maloney heard an impact and police and ambulance crews were called to a bloodied Mr Ford who was found on his back on the verge.

When the train stopped, a guard saw the defendant, who appeared injured, standing very close to Keith Ford.

He crouched down, held his head in his hands and staggered before sitting down on the side of the train tracks to smoke a cigarette.

Despite paramedics’ best efforts, Mr Ford was pronounced dead at 5.49pm.

He suffered a significant chest injury, as well as other injuries to his shoulder blade and right arm.

Mr Hughes said on-board CCTV footage shows Ford pulling the accused aside, but the footage cuts out two seconds before impact.

Mr Hughes said there had been “numerous attempts” to recover footage of the impact “without success”.

During a post-mortem, Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers found Mr Ford suffered serious crush injuries and acute alcohol poisoning.

He died from severe chest trauma caused by a collision with a train, the court heard.

It would be a “violent and violent blow” corresponding to the fact that Mr. Ford was crouching at the time of impact, due to his attempt to pull the accused from the rails, says the Crown.

Mr. Ford’s blood alcohol level was three and a half times the legal driving limit.

After the incident, Kennedy returned to his trailer and a witness told the court he had a large gash on his finger and his hand and upper arm were covered in blood.

The police arrested him that evening at 8:25 p.m. and he said, “I don’t believe that.”

At 11.20pm, police took the suspect to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Whiston Hospital for an operation on his hand.

Vicki Rice, Mr. Ford’s then-partner, said she was traveling to Canada when the incident occurred.

Kennedy, 49, of Cheetham, Manchester, denies unlawfully killing Keith Wadsworth Ford, 40, of Valley Road, Urmston.

The judge said Kennedy admits to trespassing on the railroad tracks, but denies doing so “endangering any person being transported or in or on the railroad tracks.”

Simon Killeen, defending, said two friends’ “adventure” on a beautiful summer’s day after drinks “turned into misadventure, tragedy and death”.

Because Mr. Ford had been drinking earlier, he drank less and was perhaps more astutely aware of the danger posed by the approaching train.

Mr Killeen said the two men jointly decided to trespass on the railway tracks.

He explained: “How does sitting down cause Mr. Ford’s death?” This is not the case.

“He did not unlawfully kill his friend. He is guilty of nothing other than trespassing.

“One man unfortunately lost his life, the other is disfigured forever but he is alive. But that should not be an excuse to say that someone has to pay.

The trial, which is expected to last about a week, continues.