Victorian tram crash site cleared for use

Traffic crews have cleared a tram and truck collision site on Elliot Avenue in Melbourne's inner north.

Emergency services at the scene of a truck-tram accident in Melbourne

A truck crash that derailed a Melbourne tram could impact traffic throughout the evening peak. (AAP)

Ten hours passed before a truck and tram collision, injuring almost 30 people, could be cleaned up in Melbourne.

Fourteen people including the tram driver were taken to hospital after the tram filled with about 46 people collided with a truck just after 8am on Monday as it crossed Elliott Avenue in Parkville.

Yarra Trams Passenger Service Delivery executive director Terry Scott said the priority on Monday had been "the welfare of our tram driver, passengers and everyone involved in this incident".

The site was cleared about 6pm when trams resumed running the length of route 58 from the CBD to West Coburg, with some residual delays while the timetable was restored.

Commuters had been earlier advised that sections were closed off and were encouraged to seek alternative routes.

The truck was on its side and both carriages of the B-class tram off its rails.

Victoria Police are still investigating whether the driver was at fault or the traffic lights malfunctioned, and have collected dozens of witness statements.

"Somebody has gone through a red light but whether it was the tram or the truck, we don't know," Senior Sergeant Stephen Wilson told reporters.

One person broke an arm while the others were treated for sprains, strains and cuts, emergency services say.

Katrina Walker was riding near the front of the tram and says pedestrians were also crossing Elliott Ave in the same direction as the tram at the time of the crash.

"It's wild (sic) no one was more seriously injured," she told AAP.

Rail Tram and Bus Union national secretary Phil Altieri said the union was very concerned about the location, where the tram line through Royal Park intersects with the Elliott Avenue.

"There was a very, very bad tram and truck (collision) a couple of years ago and our member was very badly injured and is still not driving," he told 3AW

"It is a bit of a hotspot ... it shouldn't be a problem but it is."


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Source: AAP



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