 The signalman at the previous station, Mangalore, had fallen asleep after the passage of the first train, and awoke as the second train approached, allowing it to proceed despite not having received a "line clear" signal from Seymour.The driver of the second train had also been travelling too fast to stop in time after passing the distant signal at Seymour which was at danger.The signalman at Mangalore was later acquitted of a charge of manslaughter.