1996 Kamianske tram accident

1996 Kamianske tram accident

Dnieprodzerzhinsk tram which crashed on June 2 1996.

KTM-5, the tram involved in the crash, as seen in 1992.
Date July 2, 1996
Time 06:00 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC)[1]
Location Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Coordinates 48°31′00″N 34°37′00″E / 48.51667°N 34.61667°E / 48.51667; 34.61667Coordinates: 48°31′00″N 34°37′00″E / 48.51667°N 34.61667°E / 48.51667; 34.61667
Country Ukraine
Rail line Dniprodzerzhynsk-Pasazhyrskyi
Operator Kamianske Tramway
Type of incident Derailment
Cause Brake failure[2]
Statistics
Trains 1
Passengers ≥150
Deaths 34
Injuries 100+

The 1996 Kamianske tram accident occurred on July 2, 1996, in Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine when an overcrowded tram derailed during evening rush hour, and crashed into a concrete wall. An investigation by the local railway department discovered that the brakes on the tram car failed as it was going down a hill. The derailment and subsequent crash killed a total of 34 people, and left over 100 others injured. The incident was the deadliest tram accident in the Ukraine,[1] and one of the deadliest tram disasters anywhere in the world, surpassing the 1954 Zagreb tram accident which killed 19 people.[3]

Accident

The accident occurred on the Dniprodzerzhynsk-Pasazhyrskyi tram line, operated by the Kamianske Tramway. The tramway operates a total of four tram lines, each of which are designated with a number. The accident occurred on tramway line number 2, between Chapaev Street and Anoshkina Avenue.[1] Tram no. 1044, which was registered as KTM-5, departed during the late afternoon on July 2, 1996. At 06:00 p.m. local time (18:00 UTC), the tram which was carrying at least 150 passengers began to rapidly accelerate down a steep hill[4] at 43 mph (70 km/h). As the tram was traveling down the hill it's brakes failed, causing the tram car to derail and turn upside down.[1] The tram proceeded to smash through a concrete wall, causing the metal case of the cabin to detach and shear off the roof of the car, before stopping just short of a secondary school.[5][2] Out of the 150 passengers on board, 29 were killed immediately and another 5 died subsequently in the hospital.[6] Over 100 other people were left injured.[1]

Aftermath

In response to the disaster, the Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma declared a day of national mourning on July 3, and sent a message of condolence addressed to the acting head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration. He also set up an investigation committee, which later determined that overcrowding and brake failure was the cause of the disaster. A celebration had initially been planned for July 3, in recognition of the adoption of the Ukrainian Constitution. However, following the accident all festivities scheduled for the day were canceled and somber music was aired on state television and radio stations.[7] Following a government inquiry into the cause of the accident the mayor, Serhiy Shershnev, and his deputy, Ihor Laktionov, resigned.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tram accident in the Soviet Union (24 photos)". Bashney.net. Bashney.net. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 Markus, Ustina. "Major Tram Accident in Ukraine". Radio Free Europe. Newsline. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Šašić, Miroslav (31 October 2000). "Mirogojska tragedija 1954. godine". Monitor.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Five Fatal Accidents Involving Derailed Trams". Pakistan Point News. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  5. ↑ Pshenichniy, Stanislav (July 7, 2006). "Sad Anniversary in Dneprodzerzhinsk". Dneprovska Pravda (in Russian). Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  6. ↑ Baltaksa, Mikhail (February 19, 2007). В Днепродзержинске авария с трамваем. Sobytiya (in Russian). Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  7. ↑ Kolomayets, Marta. "Ukraine mourns tram accident victims". The Maharishi Institute. Kyiv Press Bureau. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Interfax-Ukraine (February 19, 2007). В Днепродзержинске трамвай сошел с рельсов, 5 человек ранены (in Russian). Podrobnosti. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
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