Woman, 28, died when she smacked head on tree leaning out of train window after drinks at Christmas market
A WOMAN died after leaning out of the window of a moving train and hitting her head on a tree branch when she was on her way home from drinking with friends at a Christmas market.
Bethan Roper, 28, was nearly twice the drink-drive limit when she died making her way back from a Christmas shopping trip with friends in Bath on December 1 2018.
The charity worker, from Penarth in south Wales, suffered serious head injuries while travelling between Bath and Keynsham.
She was pronounced dead at Bristol Temple Meads station.
Bethan and her friends boarded the train home at about 10pm and the group stayed near the doors as the carriage near to them was full.
One of the group of friends opened the window and at least one other friend of Bethan’s leaned out of the window before she did, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned pending several expert reports.
Today the RAIB published its findings into the tragic incident.
It listed a series of recommendations and key findings, including a previously unseen toxicology report.
It said: “The toxicology report concluded that the passenger’s blood contained 142 milligrams of ethanol per 100 millilitres.
“This is nearly twice the UK legal driving limit of 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood.
“It is generally recognised that this would cause a level of intoxication in the average social drinker which may affect their co-ordination and judgement.
“However, the actual effect on the passenger involved is unknown.”
The report also noted that Network Rail had not carried out a tree inspection on the stretch of track where the accident happened since 2009.
This meant the branch was close enough for a passenger leaning out of a window to come into contact with it.
The report said: “The RAIB is satisfied that one of the group of friends opened the window and at least one other friend leaned out of the window before the passenger who was injured did so.
“Witness evidence indicates that the passenger had her head out of the window for a few seconds before falling back into the vestibule having sustained a serious head injury.”
The RAIB noted that a sign warning passengers not to put their head out of the window could have been clearer.
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Speaking previously, Bethan’s dad Adrian said: “All of us who knew Bethan have been very privileged. She was beautiful in every way.
“Her goodness and fullness of spirit will live on in our hearts and actions.”
Bethan worked for the Welsh Refugee Council, having graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2013.
The charity, a sister organisation to the UK-wide Refugee Council, works to help asylum seekers and refugees in Wales.
She was also a campaigner and chairman of Young Socialists Cardiff.
British Transport Police and the Office of Rail and Road are also investigating.
In August 2016, Simon Brown, 24, a railway enthusiast, was killed while leaning out of the window of a Gatwick Express train near Balham in south London. His head hit a signal gantry at 61mph.