Rotterdam tram operator was not under the influence at time of crash that hurt 15
The person who was driving a tram which rear-ended a stopped tram on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, regional transport firm RET said late Wednesday afternoon. The tram operator was one of the 15 people injured in the crash, but their condition has not been released.
One person was critically injured in the incident, and six more people were hospitalized. Eight others were treated at the scene.
Although the cause of the crash is not yet known, Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten described the incident as a "terrible accident." It happened at 11:10 a.m., and could be seen on one of the city’s live webcams. The video showed one tram stopped minutes earlier when the bridge was opened, and then a second tram approaching at high speed when it struck the back of the first vehicle.
Investigations by both the police and the Dutch Safety Board were launched soon after the late morning incident. The trams were in the process of being driven away from the scene at a slow pace at 5:30 p.m. The incident happened on the southern side of the bridge, with the trams continuing east over the bridge.
"We have seen the footage and are deeply shocked," said RET in a statement. "In cooperation with the emergency services, we will do everything we can to uncover how this could have happened."
The bridge was still closed to tram traffic and most motor vehicles at the end of the afternoon. "The power has been switched off from the overhead lines," the company said. This impacted lines 3 and 5, but passengers were able to use Metro lines E and D from Zuid via Wilhelminaplein towards the Beurs stop in the center of Rotterdam. "We will restart the service as soon as possible."
Cyclists and pedestrians were allowed to use the bridge. the movable section was able to be used to let shipping traffic pass below.
