Dozens left injured by bus and tram smash
Crash causes transport chaos in capital
An aerial view of the collision between a Luas tram and a bus at the corner of O'Connell St and Middle Abbey St in Dublin's city centre yesterday afternoon.
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FIVE separate investigations are under way following an horrific crash between a bus and tram in Dublin yesterday that left two dozen people injured -- three of them seriously -- when a packed Luas tram derailed after becoming wedged into the side of a city bus.
Three people -- including the tram driver -- were in serious but stable condition in hospital last night while another 24 were treated for injuries at the Mater, Beaumont and St James's hospitals after the collision between a double-decker Dublin Bus and a Red Line tram at the intersection of Abbey Street and O'Connell Street, shortly before 3pm yesterday.
It is understood that one of the injured was a pedestrian who was knocked down by the bus.
The Luas driver was among three people who were trapped inside the vehicles. He was rushed to hospital on a stretcher after being cut out of his cabin by emergency services along with two bus passengers who were wedged for more than an hour on the first floor of the bus near the stairwell.
A number of tram passengers were also initially trapped inside following the collision when the doors failed to open.
Colm Meegan, a paramedic with the HSE ambulance service, said many of the injured suffered fractures and soft tissue injuries.
Miraculously, no one was killed in the incident, which shocked hundreds of passersby on busy O'Connell Street, brought traffic to a standstill and left debris scattered over the thoroughfare.
Derailed
Both Dublin Bus and Veolia Transport have launched their own investigations into the accident along with gardai, the Railway Safety Commission and the Rail Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport.
Witnesses at the scene said it appears that one of the transport vehicles may have run a red light. The northbound number 16 bus, carrying 22 passengers, was making its way from O'Connell bridge towards Santry in north Dublin when it was in collision with the tram heading towards Connolly Station at Abbey Street.
The force of the impact caused the derailment of the tram and wedged the driver's cabin into the side of the bus, which was also forced off the road and up on to the central traffic island.
Three of the bus passengers were taken to hospital by ambulance while another 10 went to hospital as a precautionary measure. The remaining injured Luas passengers were treated at hospital or at the scene by paramedics, who were among a fleet of 20 fire brigade tenders and ambulances that rushed to the scene within minutes of the crash.
Two advanced paramedic teams were also sent to the scene as well as a specialist medical team.
The bulk of the casualties were treated at the Mater Hospital which dealt with 21 people at its A&E department, including two who were admitted last night in serious condition, after it activated its serious incident plan. This led the hospital to give the casualties first priority for treatment and beds. The hospital also issued an urgent appeal to the public not to attend there until further notice.
Disruption
The accident resulted in widespread travel disruption last night as Luas services were suspended between Connolly Station and Smithfield and all northbound Dublin buses were re-routed to adjacent streets via Gardiner Street, Parnell Street and Parnell Square.
Airport-bound Airlink buses were also diverted away from O'Connell Street and were departing directly from Busaras. Southbound buses were also affected and were running up to 40 minutes late last night.
Once garda forensic investigators completed their examination of the accident scene last night, work crews moved in to clear the junction.
Bus and Luas services are expected to be back running normally in time for this morning's rush hour.
A full Luas service between Tallaght and Connolly Station is expected to be running for the morning rush hour. Bus services are also expected to operate as normal. Luas passengers can ring freephone 1800 300 604 or log onto www.luas.ie, while bus passengers are advised to log on to www.dublinbus.ie.
Dublin Lord Mayor Emer Costello, who visited the scene shortly after the accident, said her thoughts were with the injured and their families. She also thanked the gardai and emergency services for their dedication and professionalism dealing with the incident.
Fine Gael senator and transport spokesman Paschal Donohoe labelled the accident as "unthinkable" and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
- Allison Bray and Caitrina Cody
