At least three individuals have lost their lives, and approximately 40 others have sustained injuries following a tragic tram accident that occurred in a bustling city, resulting in the tram derailing and colliding with a building.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the incident site in the heart of Milan, responding to the accident where pedestrians were among the injured, subsequently transported to Niguarda Hospital. Witnesses recounted observing pedestrians trapped under the tram.
The fatal incident unfolded as tram number 9 was traveling along Viale Vittorio Veneto in Milan, crashing around 4 pm local time. An eyewitness mentioned, “People were stuck on the tracks.” It was reported that a 59-year-old male passenger onboard the tram and a pedestrian lost their lives in the collision.
Originating from Piazza della Repubblica and en route to Piazza Oberdan, the tram was expected to continue straight at the intersection with Via Lazzaretto. However, it made a left turn at excessive speed, causing the crash while attempting to navigate the curve.
The mishap occurred amidst Milan’s hosting of seasonal fashion shows, bridging the gap between the Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games events in the city.
A thorough police inquiry into the accident is underway, with uncertainties about whether the trapped individuals were crossing the road and if the driver abruptly applied brakes to evade them.
The tram collided with a building at the street corner, dislodging a traffic signal and shattering the windows of a nearby restaurant.
Milan’s mayor, Beppe Sala, indicated that human error might have played a role, speculating that the tram driver failed to switch tracks to maintain a straight trajectory and potentially suffered a medical episode. Sala described the driver as a seasoned employee who had just started his shift an hour before the incident. The driver skipped a scheduled stop prior to the collision and will be interrogated post-treatment at the hospital for injuries sustained.
A passenger recounted, “I felt like it was an earthquake. I was seated and suddenly fell along with others. It was a terrifying experience. Fortunately, I only injured my knee, but the person beside me was bleeding from the head. It took some time to get off the tram.”
Another female passenger shared, “We heard a strange noise from beneath, then the tram derailed, causing us to be thrown around. The tram shifted direction, gained speed, and collided with a building. I boarded at the initial stop, Repubblica, standing near the driver, and everyone crashed into me.”
The tram involved was a recently introduced Tramlink model in Milan, featuring bidirectional capabilities, with dual driver’s cabs at either end allowing the tram to reverse if needed. Spanning 25 meters in length, the tram comprises three interconnected carriages, accommodating 66 seats.
In response to the tragic event, the Milan transport company, ATM, expressed deep shock, extending condolences to the families of the deceased and all those injured. ATM is actively cooperating with judicial authorities to ascertain the accident’s cause and specifics, providing essential information and assistance for the investigation.
