Driver May Be Blamed For Trolley Accident

Thu., Aug. 17, 2000

From Staff

A trolley driver may be to blame for an accident that injured 21 people, according to a preliminary investigation report.

The report concluded that the brake system was working properly before the trolley crashed into a concrete barrier at the end of the line at South Jackson Street on Aug. 6.

The report was released Tuesday by accident-reconstruction experts, including independent investigators and members of the Seattle Police Department.

The operator apparently turned off a brake failure alarm that indicated the loss of power to an air brake compressor, and continued on to the Jackson Street Station.

Five blocks later, going no faster than 10 mph, the 73-year-old Australian-made streetcar hit the bulkhead. Of the 50 passengers, 21 were taken to hospitals for treatment of minor and moderate injuries. Two had broken bones.

The driver has not been identified publicly. He was scheduled to go on vacation before the accident, but was placed on paid administrative leave until a final report is released, expected in about a month.

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