Milan tram driver charged after derailment kills two, injures nearly 50
The 60-year-old operator reported experiencing leg pain and loss of consciousness before the line 9 tram struck a building on February 27.
3 hrs ago
The driver of a Milan tram that derailed on February 27 has been registered as a suspect in a negligent disaster investigation, authorities said. The incident killed two people and injured nearly 50 others when the line 9 tram left the tracks in viale Vittorio Veneto and struck a building.
The 60-year-old operator told La Repubblica that he experienced a medical episode while operating the vehicle. "The truth is that I was struck by a medical condition while driving. I had pain in my leg, then a fainting spell... I saw nothing more, everything went black and I lost control. I regained consciousness only when I hit that building," he said.
The driver reported that the initial symptom was leg pain, followed by a loss of consciousness that caused him to lose control of the tram. Upon impact with the building, he struck his head on glass and sustained a black eye, though he did not suffer serious injuries and was discharged from medical care.
The operator will be questioned again in the coming days in the presence of his lawyer, now that he has been registered as a suspect. The man has 35 years of service with no prior accidents on his record, according to authorities.
Two people died in the derailment, with both fatalities occurring when passengers were ejected from the tram. Approximately 50 others were injured. Two patients remained hospitalized in intensive care at Policlinico di Milano as of March 1, with one additional patient under observation. All other injured passengers had been discharged.
The Milan Prosecutor's Office is conducting investigations into the tram's "dead man's switch" system—a safety device designed to stop the vehicle if the operator becomes incapacitated. The derailed tram was equipped with this system as well as another safety mechanism, authorities said.
Floral tributes were placed at the derailment site on March 1. Two white flower arrangements with roses and calla lilies, accompanied by a card reading "The condolences of ATM," were left by representatives of Milan's public transport company. A white gerbera was also placed on a large tree that the tram struck as it navigated the curve, left by a private citizen.