OSLO, Norway — Norwegian authorities reported on Friday that the tram driver involved in a recent derailment that led to a collision with a store in downtown Oslo has stated he lost consciousness prior to the incident and cannot recall what transpired.
Police officials revealed they have interviewed the unnamed driver, who claimed he experienced a health issue and fainted just before the accident occurred. They are currently awaiting findings from technical assessments being conducted by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority to further understand the circumstances surrounding the derailment.
On October 29, the four-carriage tram service was carrying around twenty people when it veered off course at an intersection on Storgata, a significant roadway near Oslo’s central train station.
Eyewitness Mohnsin Munir described seeing the tram approaching with considerable speed. Instead of executing a left turn, the tram derailed and proceeded directly into the store, Eplehuset. Munir recounted standing outside his workplace, witnessing the tram barreling forward into the shop front.
Both police and fire department officials noted that the crash resulted in significant damage to the store’s interior. Among those injured was the tram driver, though authorities stated that all individuals affected received treatment at the scene, with no serious injuries reported.
Subsequently, the four-story building housing the store was evacuated as a precautionary measure, allowing officials to assess any potential structural compromises.
The public transit company operating the tram system, Sporveien, highlighted that their trams transport approximately 50 million passengers annually.