Allan Martin Simpson: Details emerge about botched heist that caused shocking train derailment

The details of a botched go-kart heist that led to a passenger train flying off the tracks, seriously injuring several people, near Wollongong last year have been outlined in court.

The man whose botched attempt to steal a go-kart caused a passenger train derailment in the Illawarra last year has pleaded guilty in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.

Allan Martin Simpson, 48, appeared via video link to plead guilty to a string of charges related to the before-dawn incident on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

The charges included endangering the safety of passengers on a railway, causing an obstruction to a railway locomotive, two counts of reckless damage of property (train and car), entering land with the intent to commit an indictable offence (larceny), driving while disqualified and possession of a prohibited drug.

According to documents tendered in court, in the days leading up to the derailment Simpson was with his partner at Wollongong Kart Raceway on West Dapto Rd in Kembla Grange.

The four-car passenger train derailed due to the careless actions of Allan Martin Simpson. Picture: Madeline Crittenden

He’d agreed to purchase a go-kart worth around $3000 from the business and was to pick it up on Wednesday, October 20.

However, instead of sticking to the deal, Simpson attempted to steal the go-kart under the cloak of darkness just two days before he was set to purchase it.

The brazen heist began sometime after 11pm on Tuesday, October 19, when Simpson drove off in his partner‘s Nissan Elgrand which was unlocked and had the keys in the ignition at their Corunna St address in Flinders according to the court documents.

Shortly after 2.30am, Simpson was captured riding a pushbike on security cameras positioned at Kembla Grange Station.

Simpson was seen riding the bike down the tracks before stopping at the fence of Wollongong Kart Raceway where he used bolt cutters to enter the facility.

Simpson managed to push and pull the go-kart, which he’d said he would buy, through the fence and onto an embankment adjacent to the tracks.

Allan Martin Simpson appeared in Wollongong Local Court via AVL. Source: NSW Police

At 3.12am, Simpson returned to the Kembla Grange Station, bolt cutters in tow, and pulled on a black face cover in an attempt to mask his identity.

The court documents revealed Simpson left the station before returning with a large wooden stick and a wooden pole which he used to reposition the CCTV cameras so they were not pointing southbound towards the West Dapto Rd rail crossing.

Simpson then drove the Nissan onto the tracks in an effort to retrieve the go-kart, however, the vehicle got caught with wheels elevated from the ground.

The crook hailed down a passer-by to try and assist him by saying “I’ve got my car stuck on the railway track, can you drive down and nudge me off”.

After a couple of unsuccessful manpower pushes, the passer-by went to call triple-0 when Simpson pleaded “Don‘t call the cops, I don’t have my licence”.

At 4.09am, Simpson and the passer-by moved away from the Nissan as a northbound train, carrying a driver, training guard and 10 passengers, hurled towards the scene along a sweeping bend at more than 100km/h.

Multiple emergency vehicles were dispatched to the scene of the derailment. Picture: Madeline Crittenden

The driver of the Tangara passenger train engaged the full brakes and emergency brakes, but with only 90 metres notice, it was still travelling in excess of 90km/h when the collision occurred.

The Nissan was dragged 30 metres down the line before knocking over a rail single structure as well as overhead power lines.

The front two carriages of the train, where the driver, the guard and three passengers were located, dislodged from the track with the first carriage toppling over.

The court heard the driver was rushed to Wollongong Hospital via ambulance with a fracture to his spine, bruised ribs, a collapsed lung and extensive bruising to his hips, legs and back, the court heard.

The guard and two of the passengers were also conveyed to Wollongong Hospital.

Police attended a Dapto address on Duley St just before 2pm on Wednesday, October 27 and upon Simpson realising they were there to arrest him, he scampered to the rear of the property where he was apprehended in the backyard.

Allan Martin Simpson after his arrest in Dapto a week after his attempted go-kart theft. Picture: NSW Police

Simpson was arrested with 1.06 grams of methamphetamine in his possession and when he was taken back to Lake Illawarra Police Station he said “I was going to hand myself in, I was just waiting to get my bike back from the repair shop” and ”I was there stealing copper”.

Simpson was convicted for the drug charge by Magistrate Claire Girotto on Wednesday, but she opted not to impose a penalty.

In regards to the larceny offence, Simpson, who has been in custody since he was arrested, was slapped with a two-month prison sentence starting from Wednesday.

The matter will be mentioned in court on July 15.