GOTHENBURG, Sweden — A tram derailed and ploughed into a pizzeria in central Gothenburg on Thursday night, leaving at least seven people injured, including the driver, in what authorities are calling a serious incident potentially caused by operator error or mechanical failure.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Kungsportsavenyn and Vasagatan, a busy hub in the city’s entertainment and dining district. Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 10:30 p.m., where they found the tram lodged in the front of a detached building housing a popular pizzeria.
“It’s a tram that has come driving from Vasaplatsen in the direction of Avenyn. On the way, the speed has increased so that it has not been able to turn onto Avenyn, but continues straight ahead and into a detached building, which is a pizzeria,” said police spokesperson Christian Brattgard, speaking to the local newspaper Göteborgs-Posten on Friday morning.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as passersby rushed to assist victims before emergency crews arrived. Parosh Hama Ali, who lives in a nearby building, told the TT news agency that he initially thought the noise was someone shutting a garage door — until the screams began.
“I rushed out and saw people trying to open one of the tram doors. They managed to get it open just before the rescue service got there,” he said.
Morten Gunneng, the police officer first on the scene, told Sweden Herald that the tram’s speed appeared to be a major factor in the derailment. “The speed was so high that the tram not only derailed, it continued to drive straight ahead on the asphalt, up a good bit on the sidewalk on the opposite side, and then forced its way into a pizzeria,” Gunneng said.
The crash caused significant damage to the front section of the pizzeria and the tram’s lead car. Fortunately, no patrons or employees in the restaurant were seriously hurt, according to early reports from rescue services.
All seven injured individuals were transported to a nearby hospital, and while their conditions have not been officially disclosed, none are believed to be in critical condition.
The area surrounding the crash site was quickly cordoned off, and tram traffic was suspended on the affected route. Gothenburg Tramways, the city’s transit operator, has confirmed its full cooperation with local authorities in investigating the cause of the derailment.
Preliminary investigations are focusing on whether “serious carelessness” contributed to the crash. Officials have not ruled out technical failure or human error. The Swedish Transport Agency and police are jointly leading the inquiry, with technical teams examining the tram’s black box and track conditions.
As of Friday afternoon, the damaged tram had been removed from the crash site, and structural engineers were assessing the stability of the affected building. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area as cleanup and investigation efforts continue.
This incident has raised fresh concerns about tram safety in Gothenburg, a city known for its extensive light rail network. Further updates are expected as investigators release their findings.