wednesday, October 6, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 7
Nation/World
British train collision kills at least 26 people
The Associated Press
Same train line site of 1997 crash that killed seven
LONDON — Two London commuter trains smashed into each other during rush hour yesterday, killing 26 passengers and injuring 160 on the same rail line as another fatal crash two years ago.
Many passengers sobbed as they described frantically crawling out broken windows after Britain's worst train accident in more than a decade.
Ambulance and fire crews, police and rail workers swarmed around the overturned, mangled rail cars for hours, locating and freeing injured survivors in the smoldering wreckage near the Ladbroke Grove residential area in west London.
"I was thinking, 'God, please don't let me die.'" said Stuart Allen, a passenger. "You've got flames. You've got smoke. You've got a big bang. You've just got to think the worst." Police said one badly damaged car could contain more bodies, but it called off the search for more victims until daylight today.
The cause of the collision was not immediately known, but health and safety officials began an investigation.
Great Western, one of the train companies involved in yesterday's disaster, had been fines $2.47 million for dereliction of duty in connection with the crash in 1997 that killed seven people and injured 150
others.
"I felt an almighty bang," passenger David Taylor said of yesterday's crash, which occurred early yesterday morning. "I looked up, and I could see the front of the coach was on fire. There were balls of flames coming down both sides."
Emergency crews said 18 people were injured seriously, and 124 were transported to area hospitals.
"Iinjuries are among the worst I have seen in my professional career," said Robin Touquet, an accident and emergency consultant at St. Mary's Hospital.
Others were haunted by the cries of those trapped in the wreckage.
"I could see people with blood pouring down their faces," said Joe Bannerman, who was working nearby. "Someone was running with their clothes on fire. I could see lots of people were burned badly on their faces and hands. They were shouting 'Help! Help! Get us out'!"
While safety officials were cautious about speculating about the cause of the collision, many said it was possible that the investigation would study the 1997 Southall crash in its search for answers.
Authorities could not immediately determine the total number of passengers aboard the trains. Great Western said as many as 500 people might have been on board its train, minutes away from its destination of London's Paddington Station. Thames Trains' cars may have carried 150 passengers.
The immediate cause of the Southall accident was that the driver had bent down to pack a bag and went through two amber warning lights and a red signal. But an inquiry said a contributing factor was that two automatic safety
Jason Williams/KANSAN
devices were not fully operative as the train traveled from Wales to Paddington at speeds of up to 125 mph.
Great Western pleaded guilty to the charge that it exposed passengers to risks to their health and safety in that crash.
"To have two very serious fatal accidents is a great tragedy and obviously a great disappointment," said Victor Coleman, Britain's chief inspector of railways. "What we need to do is to learn the lesson and prevent this sort of thing from happening again."
Andrew Rosenheim, 44, a United States citizen traveling on the Great Western train, felt fortunate just to be alive.
While Rosenheim said he would get on a train again, he added, "It is very depressing to think, in the light of this terrible tragedy, that it can still happen."
Yesterday's accident was Britain's worst rail crash since December 1988, when three trains collided outside London's Clapham Junction, killing 35 people.
FCC needs proof that WorldCom will benefit clients
MCI, Sprint agree to merger
The Associated Press
NEW YORK—In what would be the largest corporate takeover to date, MCI WorldCom Inc. agreed to pay $115 million for Sprint Corp., the nation's No. 3 long distance carrier, the companies officially announced yesterday morning.
The nation's top telephone regulator immediately warned the companies that they bear a heavy burden to show how consumers would benefit from the merger.
control 30 percent of the U.S. long-distance market and offer wireless phone, paging services and an Internet network. WorldCom also would be a stronger competitor to AT&T Corp., the nation's largest long-distance and cable TV company.
The combined company would be called WorldCom, and would
But William E. Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, said MCI WorldCom and Sprint would have to make a strong case for approval of the deal.
"American consumers are enjoying the lowest long-distance rates in history and the lowest Internet rates in the world for one reason: competition," Kennard said in Washington. "Competition has produced a price war in the long-distance market."
Bernard J. Ebbers, president and chief executive officer of MCI WorldCom, told reporters in New York, that "we understood from day one it is our burden of proof to show this is pro-competitive."
He added, "We look forward to the opportunity of doing that."
Both companies' boards voted to approve the deal Monday evening, and it was formally announced yesterday morning.
The deal would be the largest corporate merger ever, eclipsing the pending $82 billion deal between Exxon Corp. and Mobil Corp.
MCI WorldCom is the nation's second biggest long-distance company and one of the world's biggest operators of the networks that make up the Internet, but has no wireless calling business. Sprint PCS would fill that hole nicely.
Communications agreement leaves many in Kansas City uncertain
The Associated Press
with MCI Worldcom.
OVERLAND PARK—Leaders of Sprint Corp.'s Kansas City area operations insisted the company had no plans to abandon the company's massive headquarters project here amid plans to merge with MCI WorldCom.
Michael B. Fuller, president and chief operating officer of Sprint's Local Telecommunications Division, said the company expected to complete the construction of its campus and continue moving employees to the campus at a rate of 200 every weekend.
Still, yesterday's merger announcement left many of Sprint's 15,000 Kansas City area employees, as well as business and government leaders, wondering how it affected their futures.
Fuller said the subject of a pullout from the Kansas City area was never discussed in merger talks
Mississippi-based MC1 WorldCom Inc. has made a successful $115 billion bid for Sprint, the companies announced yesterday.
The combined company will be called WorldCom, and will control 30 percent of the U.S. long-distance market, offer wireless phone and paging services and an Internet network. WorldCom also will be a stronger competitor to AT&T Corp., the nation's largest long-
distance and cable TV company.
Sprint dedicated its new world headquarters on Friday in Overland Park, a 22-building complex still under construction that is designed to accommodate about 15,000 employees, now spread out in more than 40 buildings across the metropolitan area.
Overland Park granted millions of dollars worth of tax incentives to get the complex, and Mayor Ed Eilert said Monday night that he hoped the proposed merger wouldn't have a major effect on area employment.
"I have more questions than answers at this point in time," the mayor said. "What MCI has in mind I don't know."
Restaurant 841-7221
Iowa Next to Total Fitness
Downtown Mass & 8th 843-1095
Balloons, Candies Stuffed Animals
Pampering Principles Makeup Workshops. This week at Clinique. With a special, just-for-attending...
Free Gift.
CLINIQUE
Come to Clinique's Pampering Principles Makeup Workshops, and choose from these free beauty perks:
Choose from pampering packages to indulge yourself just the way you want -and need.
Hands-on with the Expert, including makeovers, skin TLC.
A Pampering Principles booklet, for an on-the-go or stay-at-home refresher course.
A full size Different Lipstick in Angel Red or Bronze Leaf.
All of the above.
With your Pampering Principles Consultation, you'll take home all the beauty treats above - free! One set to a customer, please. While supplies last. Call 843-6360 or stop by for an appointment today.
9th & Massachusetts