2 Killed, at Least 40 Injured After Tram Derails During Rush Hour and Crashes into Building

Rush hour in Milan turned into a nightmare Friday afternoon when a crowded tram suddenly derailed, killing two people and injuring dozens more.

The crash happened around 4 p.m. local time along Viale Vittorio Veneto in Milan, Italy. A Line 9 tram heading toward Port Genova reportedly jumped the tracks and slammed into a storefront window, sending debris flying and passengers scrambling for safety.

Fire officials confirmed that two people lost their lives and at least 40 others were injured. Among the victims was a 60-year-old Italian man who was struck by the tram and a Senegalese passenger who was riding inside.

At least one injured person was reported to be in critical condition, while six others were seriously hurt. The remaining injuries were described as minor, but witnesses say the scene was anything but.

Authorities are now investigating what went wrong. Local reports suggest the tram may have been traveling at a high speed before it derailed. Two fellow tram drivers reportedly claimed the operator did not stop at a stoplight before the crash.

After the collision, the driver allegedly told officials, “I felt sick, I felt unwell.” He was transported to a hospital and is expected to be questioned as part of the investigation.

Passengers described terrifying moments leading up to the impact.

“I thought it was an earthquake,” one rider said. “I was sitting down and I fell to the floor, along with the other passengers. It was terrible.”

A woman sitting at a nearby café said she heard a whistle and a screeching noise before seeing the tram tilt to the left. Moments later, she heard what she described as “a thud like a bomb” followed by the sound of glass shattering.

One longtime Milan resident, whose wife was on board, said he had never witnessed anything like it in his 70 years living in the city. His wife was among those taken to the hospital for evaluation.