Jen Lunn Print Journalism: 300 word News Story Breaking News Story

A mother of three from Leeds speaks out for the first time about her train crash experience which left five people dead and 150 injured. Shiela Downs, 27, was one of the 400 passengers travelling on the trains that collided 7km outside of London. Investigations were carried out by the transport police which indicated the collision happened when one failed to stop at a red light; it was thought that the driver may have had a heart attack. Shiela said, Everything was fine and then all of a sudden there was a screeching noise and the train began to lurch forward. The wreckage was spread across six lanes of track and half of one train was left in a nearby field. This caused widespread disruption of the rail network. Emergency crews were working with the RAF and local villagers were dealing with the casualties and passengers suffering from shock. Mrs. Downs said, When I opened my eyes I wasnt in the train anymore, but was lying in the middle of a field. Investigations are still underway to discover the exact cause of the impact. Passengers onboard the Northampton to London train confirmed that their train did break immediately before the collision, however passengers travelling from London to Stevenage said there was no noticeable slowing before the crash. Shiela escaped with nothing apart from a few scratches. At the Press Conference, she described her experience, Its a miracle really. A rail spokesman said, this is a shocking incident and our hearts go out to those involved. If anyone is seeking information on relatives, they should call 0845 666666. Services north of London will be disrupted for the foreseeable future, if there are any queries, please contact 08454444.