The accident occurred at the intersection of Vasagatan/Avenyn just before 1 am, the night before Midsummer Eve. It is a violent collision after a derailment in a sharp curve.
The speed was so high that the tram not only derailed, it continued straight ahead on the asphalt, up a good bit on the sidewalk on the opposite side, says Morten Gunneng, duty officer at the police.
Then the tram collided with the street kitchen, which was completely destroyed. The carriage also suffered extensive damage.
Driver injured
Eight people were injured, the police reported in the morning. One of them was the tram driver. At lunchtime, three of the injured were still in the hospital.
Two of them are seriously injured, according to Sahlgrenska's press service for TT on Midsummer Eve. The condition is stable for all who are being cared for at the hospital.
The police and the hospital's information on how many have been treated at the hospital have differed. At 3:45 pm on Midsummer Eve, Sahlgrenska reported that a total of eight people had been treated at the hospital, something that the police had previously denied during the day.
By lunchtime, the tram had been salvaged from the scene. No buses or trams will traffic Avenyn during the Midsummer weekend.
Parosh Hama Ali, who lives at the accident site, tells how he heard the crash and then screams.
It sounded like someone was closing a garage door, but in an incredibly loud way. Then I heard screams and then I realized it was serious, he says to TT.
Many gathered
He ran out from his apartment and then saw that many people had gathered at the accident site.
They tried to help those who were trapped inside the tram and struggled to get one of the doors open. They finally succeeded, before the rescue service arrived, says Parosh Hama Ali.
The police have initiated a preliminary investigation into gross negligence in traffic and gross bodily harm.
Parosh Hama Ali's strongest impression from the scene was the meeting with a young man who was obviously shocked.
He said that he and his friends were just about to sit down to eat when the tram drove into the building, he was completely shaken.
