Streetcar, bus collide in downtown Tampa
TAMPA, Fla. - A TECO streetcar collided with a charter bus just after 11 Monday morning in downtown Tampa.
It happened at Channelside Drive and South Franklin Street, just outside the Tampa Convention Center. The force of the collision apparently knocked the streetcar slightly off the tracks.
The trolley operator was taken to the hospital, but his injuries were not considered serious, police said.
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Tampa’s streetcars can travel up to 35 miles an hour. Thankfully, the one involved in the crash was only going about 5 miles an hour when it hit the charter bus.
A witness who was inside Harpoon Harry’s said they heard the screeching of the brakes and then a loud crash.
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There were seven people aboard the streetcar when it crashed, including the driver
Jason Penny with Tampa Fire Rescue said it hit the backside of a charter bus where the luggage is stored.
“It appears that, even though the impact was pretty good, and a lot of people were involved, to keep that down to really one injury is really a good thing. In spite of it all,” Penny said.
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Crews spent five hours working to reopen the typically busy intersection.
The driver of the bus was cited.