Boy held after stone block smashes train window

A 1boy aged 14 has been arrested after a train driver was seriously injured when a stone block was thrown through his cab window.

A 1boy aged 14 has been arrested after a train driver was seriously injured when a stone block was thrown through his cab window.

Police last night launched a major investigation into the incident, which happened at about 6.45pm as the train travelled from Penryn to Falmouth, Cornwall.

As the train was passing an industrial estate, a large granite block was thrown at it, apparently from a bridge, smashing the window of the driver's cab.

The teenager, from Falmouth, was arrested late last night and later released on police bail to return to Camborne police station on April 8.

British Transport Police said the train driver, who has not been named, could have been killed by what they described as a "vicious and reckless" act.

He was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro suffering from suspected fractures, cuts and shock, although his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

There were no injuries to any of the passengers on the local service but the train was brought to a halt, said Devon and Cornwall Police.

BTP have offered a £1,000 reward for any information about the incident which leads to a conviction.

A Network Rail spokesman said the train driver had glass in his eyes and cuts to his legs as a result of the incident involving the train, which was carrying 25 passengers.

British Transport Police were making further inquiries in connection with the incident, said Sgt Gerry Stuart, leading the investigation.

Incidents involving stones thrown at trains were dealt with by the BTP every day on a national basis, he said.

"Fortunately we do not have to deal with incidents of this type that often," he added.

In this case the breeze block thrown from the overbridge went straight through the strengthened windscreen of the driver's cab.