A 23-year-old tram driver has been arrested after a double-decker tram he was driving toppled over this morning, injuring 13 passengers.
The incident occurred at about midnight, when a westbound tram heading for the Whitty Street Depot derailed and flipped over on Des Voeux Road Central, landing on its side between HSBC headquarters and the Court of Final Appeal, Apple Daily reports.
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Some passengers were able to climb out of the vehicle unharmed, while some others had to be freed by authorities. Eight male passengers and five female passengers — aged 24 to 64 — were hurt in the accident, 11 of whom were sent to hospital.
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The vehicle was towed back to the depot by another tram roughly three hours after the accident.
The 23-year-old driver surnamed Lo, who sustained injuries to his arms and legs, was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving. A police source told SCMP that the area is not known as a traffic black spot, and that Lo passed a breathalyser test. He has since been released on bail and has to report to police next month.
Lo, who has less than two years experience as a tram driver, told authorities that a double-decker bus had bumped into the side of his tram, causing it to lose balance.
CCTV footage filmed from Queen’s Road Central shared online at 9:30am shows the tram travelling next to a double-decker bus before the accident:
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