Tram has crashed into a street food stall in Gothenburg
A tram has derailed and crashed into a street food stall in Gothenburg.
Eight people have been taken to hospital, three of whom are still being treated on Friday morning.
Two of them have serious injuries.
“There was a commotion, people screaming and trying to help those in the tram to pull them out,” says Parosh Hama Ali, who lives in the area.
The police and emergency services received the first emergency call about the accident at the intersection of Kungsportsavenyn and Vasagatan just before 1 a.m. Friday night.
– The tram has traveled from Vasaplatsen in the direction of Avenyn and the speed has increased, unknown why. At the intersection at the avenue it is unable to turn but goes straight ahead and into this pizzeria, says Christian Brattgård, press spokesman for the police.
People in front of the tram threw themselves out of the way.
Shocked people received crisis support
Eight people were taken to hospital after the accident.
At lunchtime on Friday, three people were still being treated, according to Sahlgrenska Hospital.
– A couple of the people were shocked, and have also received crisis support, says the hospital’s press spokesperson Calle Jerfhed.
Two of the people are seriously injured. One of them is a man in his 40s.
The extent of the injuries to the third person is not known to the press service.
V-leader Nooshi Dadgostar, who himself lived in Gothenburg, commented on the accident this morning and praised the rescue personnel.
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To be salvaged
The police have opened a preliminary investigation into gross negligence in traffic and gross bodily harm.
– We have spoken to the driver, but I don’t know what came out of it, says Christian Brattgård.
The emergency services left the scene around 4 a.m. after the operation had been going on for several hours. At 1 p.m. on Friday, the police announced that they had removed the tram.
Why the accident occurred is unclear.
The video shows: The chaos after the accident
Traffic problems
A large area is cordoned off and tram traffic is stopped on the current route.
The accident has led to very extensive traffic disruptions.
– It is completely closed on Avenyn and Vasagatan, says Bosse Florell, alarm and control operator at the rescue service.
No public transport will run on Avenyn on Friday, Västtrafik announces. Buses and trams will be rerouted.
“Shocked and taken by the situation”
Gothenburg Tramways, which is responsible for operating and maintaining tram traffic in the city, is starting an investigation after the tram accident.
– You are shocked and taken by the situation and think of those on the spot, says Malin Andersson, acting CEO of Gothenburg Tramways, to SVT News.
During the day, contact the tram driver, who is in hospital, and offer your support.
– We are following the developments closely and have informed all our drivers who are going out this morning. We will also investigate what happened together with the police, Andersson tells Expressen.
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