Tram Accident

Well earlier in my blogs i had mentioned about the trams in Mannheim and how they are ridiculously priced for single journey's. I also mentioned that the trams have drivers that can control the tram and give a decent honk to anyone who wonders on the tracks which share the same road with pedestrians and cars.

Well my worst fears have come true. Today a kid just got knocked down by the tram in front of my office.I didnt see the accident and i don't know how it happened since the tram was so big and it is impossible for the kid to not see it. But kids do stupid stuff. However I have a theory on how it happened. Please view the diagram below:



The boys mission was to cross the street. There was a tram driving along the street, tram A, so he had to wait for it to pass. as soon as it passed, the boy ran across the street without noticing there was a tram, tram B, coming from the other direction. This is due to his view was blocked by tram A. This is also due to his hastiness. So as soon as he was half way across, he was in the shock of his life when he saw tram B. By now it was too late to jump out of the way let alone break the tram.

The trams were so quite and i guess that another reason why the boy didn't notice the tram coming. Things didn't look pretty at this time. I heard an adult male scream, but i thought it was nothing since i always here German men screaming in the streets, no matter drunk or sober. But the sound of many sirens approaching our office area really started to bug me, so i looked out the window. Thats when I saw many people gathering outside and some paramedics and policemen at the accident site and the boy laying in front of the tram (luckily not under or it would be a super ugly scene).

The accident scene after the boy was lifted into the ambulance.

However there was no blood in sight so i think he just suffered from broken bones, hopefully not broken neck. Im pretty sure he is alive. His friend live to tell the tale to the police and help them phone his and his friends parents about the incident. I'm pretty sure the victims mother was shocked to death to receive a call from the police telling her what had happened. I mean try putting yourself in a mothers shoes and answering that call......

My colleague told me these accidents often happen to the level that the trams already have an emergency route each time accidents happen because each time an accident happens, the rail would be closed for at least an hour. In fact he said another accident happened a few weeks ago within the city. Its also not very surprising because i almost got into a similar accident in the similar situation. It scary when you think a small blunder can cost you your life (or some broken bones).

Moral of the story : Always use a pedestrian crossing to cross the street.