Автобус протаранил трамвай в Иркутске. Есть пострадавшие

A tram and a bus collided this morning in Irkutsk. The accident occurred during rush hour, meaning many city residents were unable to get to work on time. Moreover, this accident could seriously impact tram service in the regional capital. We'll explain why below. The 20-ton tram couldn't survive the knockout blow from the bus. Fifteen people, all on board, became unwitting participants in the duel between the two heavyweights. The tram was making its first trip of the day—during rush hour, there are dozens of passengers, meaning there could have been more injuries. Three women sought medical attention. The bus driver also complained of health problems. ANTON KURILENKO, Head of the Traffic Police Propaganda Department of the Irkutsk Ministry of Internal Affairs: "According to the driver, he was feeling unwell at the time of the accident. At 6 a.m., the traffic lights there were already in full operation. According to the tram driver, she was moving against the green light." The road was blocked for about three hours. During this time, tram traffic was paralyzed throughout almost the entire city. The situation returned to normal only after the tram was delivered to the depot. The journey there was not easy, however. PAVEL MARCHUKOV, correspondent: "During the transport of the tram to the depot, two traffic police crews accompanied the tram. Because of the damage, the tram protrudes too far beyond the tram lines, and other vehicles could be damaged." The vehicles were undamaged, but the tram towing the damaged tram broke under the strain. It will be repaired within a few hours. If another tram breaks down in the city during this time, towing it to the depot will be problematic. Difficulties also arose at the entrance to the depot. This time, a pole got in the way. A tractor had to be used. Only in this way was the tram more or less straightened out. The tram will likely remain in this condition. It cannot be repaired. Because of this, the transportation company is preparing for problems. OLEG OGNEV, Deputy Director for Tram Fleet Organization: "This is a significant loss for us. Unfortunately, we don't have many trams, and our reserve capacity will simply decrease. If a tram fails on the line, we won't have anything to replace it with, given that the fleet is quite old and has a high rate of breakdowns, so a reserve is essential." It's too early to say how much the loss of one tram will impact tram service throughout the city. The exact cause of the accident is also unclear. An investigation will determine the final details of this road battle.