Monday, 26 January 2015 - 09:46
Tram passenger dies, but driver refuses to help: Report
A tram driver from Amsterdam knowingly drove around with a deceased man in his vehicle for at least 20 minutes, De Telegraaf reports.
The incident occurred at about 16:30 on Friday. "At Beethovenstraat in Amsterdam I got into tram 5 direction Amstelveen after a day of shopping", an eyewitness said to De Telegraaf. "In the tram there was an empty seat next to a gentleman who was leaning his head against the window. Just before I wanted to sit down, I noticed that the man sat suspiciously still with his eyes open."
According to De Telegraaf, the driver of line 5 was repeatedly informed of the emergency in his tram by the eyewitness and other distressed passengers. The driver indicated that he was aware of the situation, but refused to stop to provide the opportunity for emergency services to perform resuscitation.
The emergency services, who were informed of the situation through 112 by shocked travelers, could only tend to the man at the last stop on the Binnehof in Amstelveen. It was too late to help the man.
The GVB called this a "bizarre incident". The driver was suspended with immediate effect. "It is of course totally unacceptable if a tram drier knowingly continues to drive with a deceased person aboard. That should never happen", said spokesperson Eric Bosman.
The police have secured the tram for investigation, but could not comment on the incident.