21 injured in Luas and bus collision
The crash occurred just before 3pm on the capital’s bustling main thoroughfare and involved a Red line tram travelling towards Connolly Station and a number 16 Dublin Bus heading out of the city.
The 21 injured people were taken to three Dublin Hospitals – St James’s, Beaumont and the Mater.
Among the seriously injured were the tram driver and two female bus passengers who had to be cut from the wreckage, a process that took over 45 minutes.
The scene was attended to by four Dublin Fire Brigade units and scores of gardaí who cordoned off the street for more than two hours.
Dublin Lord Mayor Emer Costello visited the scene shortly after the accident and extended her sympathies to all those involved.
“My thoughts are with all those injured but I must reassure Dubliners that they do have a safe public transport system and applaud the emergency services for their swift and decisive response to the accident. I will also be ensuring that there is a review of the safety at all LUAS junctions to further decrease the possibility of such incidents occurring.”
Gardaí said they will be undertaking an investigation in conjunction with the Luas operators Veolia and Dublin Bus.
There has been some speculation that the traffic lights at the junction were experiencing problems in recent days. Dublin City Council and Dublin Bus CCTV footage will be analysed as part of the inquires into the accident.
The accident caused major traffic disruption in the city centre with the wreckage not cleared till late last night.
