Bus collides with tram in Poznań, four injured; coach fails to yield at Serbska-Naramowicka junction

What happened

On Monday, 22 June, shortly before 1 p.m., a bus collided with a tram on line 3 at the intersection of ul. Naramowicka and ul. Serbska in Poznań. According to the police, the bus driver, travelling towards Solidarności roundabout, failed to give way to the tram, which had the right of way. The impact pushed the large coach several metres and derailed the tram.

“The collision was with such force, such momentum, that it pushed the large coach a dozen or so metres. The tram itself also derailed from the track.”

Four people were injured: the bus driver, the tram driver, and two tram passengers. The bus, operated by a private carrier, had no other occupants. Police said the tram driver suffered the most serious injuries, with trauma to the head and hip, but none of the four were in life-threatening condition. All were taken to hospital. Due to their medical state, neither the bus driver nor the tram driver was tested for alcohol at the scene.

Emergency response

Firefighters, police and paramedics worked at the crash site. The Poznań fire brigade deployed five units and twelve rescuers. Officers secured CCTV footage from the intersection and began interviewing witnesses. Police spokesperson Łukasz Paterski said an investigation into the exact causes and circumstances is underway.

Traffic disruptions

The collision blocked ul. Naramowicka at the junction with ul. Serbska; traffic on ul. Serbska itself flowed normally. Public transport operator MPK Poznań suspended tram services between Wilczak loop and the Błażeja terminus. Trams on lines 3 and 10 were cut short to Wilczak, and replacement buses covered the affected section. Buses normally using ul. Serbska were rerouted. Municipal road authority ZDM advised drivers to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.

Witness account

A witness told Głos Wielkopolski that the bus appeared to be turning right and that drivers regularly ignore traffic lights at that crossing. Police have not commented on any pattern of infractions.