Luas tram derailed in collision with truck

SIX PEOPLE were injured when a Luas tram collided with a truck in Dublin yesterday.

Services on the Luas red line were disrupted for several hours following the crash at the junction of Benburb Street and Temple Street West near Collins Barracks shortly after 7.30am.

The force of the collision knocked the tram, which had been travelling eastbound from Connolly Station, off the tracks and caused the truck, a waste-skip carrying vehicle, to spin around and mount the pavement.

The impact also caused the driver of the truck to be thrown from his cab on to the road.

Six people, including both drivers, were taken to the Mater hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Five of the injured were later discharged but the truck driver was kept in overnight for observation.

A spokeswoman for Veolia Transport, which operates the Luas service, said it would be carrying out an investigation into the incident, and that it had also contacted the Railway Safety Commission and Rail Accident Investigative unit.

She also apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused.

Luas red line services had been restored, except for the Museum and Smithfield stops, as of last night. Normal services are due to resume today.

One Luas passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had been sitting towards the rear of the tram when he felt a huge thump.

He said there were a number of people on the tram at the time of the crash but fortunately no one had been standing.