Case · Germany
16-year-old crossing tram tracks while distracted by his phone seriously injured
In April 2019, a 16-year-old in Dortmund, Germany, was hit by a tram and seriously injured while crossing the tracks distracted by his phone.
· 1 source
- When
- Late April 2019 (reported April 29)
- Where
- Dortmund, Germany
- Who
- 16-year-old
- Outcome
- Seriously injured
In late April 2019, a 16-year-old in Dortmund was hit by a tram while crossing the tracks and was seriously injured. The German news agency dpa reported that he had been distracted by his phone.
Vom Handy abgelenkt: Jugendlicher von Straßenbahn erfasst
"Distracted by his phone: teenager hit by tram." — WELT (dpa) headline (April 29, 2019)
What this case shows
Trams run through the middle of the street but are quieter than cars and can't swerve or stop quickly. Tracks don't look like a road, so it's easy to relax while crossing them. When crossing tram tracks or rails, eyes off the screen and look both ways.
