Driver shaken after collision with Luas
The driver of a car which crashed into a Luas tram today said he was shaken by the experience.
The middle-aged man, who did not wish to be named, escaped uninjured from the crash.
His three-year old Ford Mondeo was pulling out of Clonmel Street, just off Harcourt Street, when it collided with the tram travelling from St Stephen’s Green to Sandyford at around 12.50pm.
“I’m a bit shaken,” he said. “I was trying to turn right.” He did not wish to make any further comment.
The front bumper of the car was torn off by the impact and the engine was damaged.
Two glass panels in the door at the front of the tram were smashed and there was also damage to the front and the left-hand side.
Passengers were trapped on board for around 10 minutes until staff from the Luas operator, Connex, arrived to force the door open.
None of the passengers in the packed tram were injured but ambulances were on hand to treat people for shock. But some passengers said there had been confusion about what had happened.
The emergency services arrived at the scene quickly but no passengers required treatment.
Connex production manager Brian Brennan said the company was advising passengers to get off at Dundrum, where there was a greater frequency of services.
“All Luas tickets will be valid for travel on Dublin Bus,” he said. The accident is the latest in a series of collisions between cars and Luas trams since the light rail system went into operation last year.
“Any incident is one too many and we would just give the message to all road users around the Luas to take due care and attention,” said Mr Brennan.
