City Hub
Image: Nine/Facebook
By TILEAH DOBSON
A teenage girl has died after becoming trapped under a tram in Sydney’s CBD on Wednesday night and was horrifically dragged 100m.
Emergency services were called to George St in Haymarket around midnight after reports came in that a pedestrian was trapped under a light rail tram.
Police from Sydney City Police found the 16-year-old trapped with critical injuries. Police had teamed up with Fire and Rescue NSW to free the young girl, and she was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance.
Unfortunately, she could not be revived.
The 52-year-old tram driver was taken to the hospital for mandatory testing.
Reports from witnesses say that the teen appeared to have tried to cross the street between two tram carriages when one tram stopped at a red light at an intersection of Goulburn and George Streets.
The girl was later trapped and was dragged underneath the tram until the driver was alerted and stopped at the Chinatown light rail stop.
Police were quick to establish a crime scene and are currently investigating the circumstances around the incident. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
“Difficult And Tragic.”
Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry had described the situation to the Sydney Morning Herald as “difficult and tragic.”
“Unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done,” he said.
He also said that firefighters that were on the scene are being offered psychological support.
“We’ve also initiated some contact with our wellbeing team and they’re the people that start the process to make sure we have the right mechanisms to look after the psychological wellbeing of our firefighters,” he said, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Saddened By The Death.”
Transport for NSW Secretary Howard Collins later issued a statement, expressing the agency’s condolences to the girl’s family on Thursday morning.
“Everyone at Transport for NSW is saddened by the death of a teenage girl at a light rail stop in central Sydney overnight,” he said.
“We extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends and loved ones.”
“We thank emergency services, staff and anyone who rendered assistance for their efforts last night and we will provide our staff with the support they need.”