Bungling cops sent letters to seven people killed in Croydon tram crash inviting them to survivors’ party
BUNGLING police sent letters to the seven people killed in the Croydon tram crash inviting them to a survivors’ party.
The letter was written by the wife of a survivor asking if others would like to meet.
But cops sent it to the victims of November’s crash — Philip Logan, Phil Seary, Dane Chinnery, Donald Collett, Robert Huxley, Dorota Rynkiewicz and Mark Smith.
The family of Mr Logan, 52, from New Addington, blasted British Transport Police.
His granddaughter Danielle Whetter, 26, said: "Receiving the letter was a bit of a kick in the teeth.
"As far as we're concerned, we've sorted out everything financially that would have been linked to Granddad so we weren't expecting any letters to him to come with his name on.
"How could someone get it so wrong?
"These seven people, their faces, their names, the areas where they were from have been plastered all over the national news, how can you can get it so wrong?"
Cops called Mr Logan’s widow Marilyn telling her the letter may arrive an hour before she found it.
Danielle said: "I wasn't there at the time but my nan was quite distressed when she opened it which is totally understandable.
"She was kind of prepared, but by only about half an hour to an hour before.
"This is a lack of care and attention."
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It is the latest blunder by BTP, who released Mr Logan’s name to the media before telling his family he was dead.
Last Wednesday a BTP officer visited the family to apologise personally about the letter, which is understood to not have been sent to the tram driver Alfred Dorris.
Danielle added: "How many times are they and other authorities going to apologise for the mess ups that are happening?"
A spokeswoman for the BTP said: "We are working hard to ensure that everyone involved in the Croydon tram derailment is receiving the support they need and sent out letters to invite people to a forum being organised by one of the survivors.
"Due to human error, the list of people we provided included the bereaved families.
"As soon as this was realised, we immediately contacted each family through their specially trained officers to ensure they had warning before a letter arrived.
"We are sorry for any unnecessary hurt this may have caused them."