On Saturday, January 11, two trams collided at a Strasbourg station in France. Contrasting reports suggest that a stationary tram was hit by another that could have switched tracks or, for reasons unknown, decided to move backward, roll down a slope, and eventually hit the stationary tram in a tunnel. Since the accident took place, 68 people have been reported injured.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to France24, there are over 100 unharmed passengers. Several outlets report that one of the tram drivers was killed. However, Emmanuel Auneau, director of the Strasbourg Transport Company (CTS), confirmed to the BBC that both tram drivers were not "physically injured. The Associated Press reports that 130 firefighters arrived at the Strasbourg central station, alongside 50 rescue vehicles.
According to Julien Joly, a transport and mobility expert who talked with France24, the tram accident "occurred in the worst place on the network." According to him, the tunnel is located in "a very dense area."
Ren'e Cellier, the Bas-Rhin Fire and Rescue Service director, detailed the severity of the injuries sustained during the incident. "Around 50 people are in a state of relative emergency, with injuries such as scalp wounds, clavicle fractures and knee sprains," Cellier said. "But there are no critical injuries. It could have been much worse." The number of injured people then rose to 68 on Sunday, January 12.
The Accident
Video footage of the resulting chaos was published on social media. The video shows the two trams being severely damaged, smoke rising at the station, and alarms and screams can be heard.
