Article: Commuters injured as two trams crash in St Kilda Rd

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Commuters injured as two trams crash in St Kilda Rd

Commuters injured as two trams crash in St Kilda Rd
Article from: Herald Sun

Staff writers

January 31, 2009 05:22pm

BREAKING NEWS: UP to 10 commuters are injured after a tram smash in Prahran this afternoon.

The crash, capping off a horror week on Melbourne's public transport system, has blocked north-bound tram services along St Kilda Rd.

A city-bound Carnegie tram crashed into a stationary University tram in St Kilda Rd, leaving commuters with cuts and bruises.

Trams will be blocked until at least 6.30pm while police clear the accident at the corner of Commercial Rd.

Sargeant Peter Tasiopoulos said both trams were about three-quarters full when the smash occurred just metres from the Alfred Hospital.

"There were about six or seven people that walked themselves to the Alfred Hospital and one was conveyed to the hospital."

Passenger Will Bottomley said every standing commuter fell to the floor when the tram on which he was travelling smashed into a stationary tram.

He said several passengers on his tram needed medical assistance, while commuters on the other tram had many more injuries.

Mr Bottomley, a 26-year-old Englishman on a working holiday in Melbourne, said the tram he was travelling on had trouble braking before the accident.

"The tram was stopping 20 or 30 metres past each stop," he said. "The brakes weren't good at all."

Police are investigating.

- Wendy Hargreaves, Evonne Barry