Was graffiti sign to blame for child's tram accident? (From Croydon Guardian)

Was graffiti sign to blame for child's tram accident?

11:16am Monday 21st January 2008 in News By Kerry McQueeney

• For an updated version of this story click here.

A small child who suffered multiple injuries after riding his bike into the path of an oncoming tram may not have seen a sign warning him of potential danger - because it was covered in graffiti.

The boy, thought to be around five years old, was caught under the vehicle at around 6.20pm yesterday as he cycled across a pedestrian crossing between Ampere Way and Waddon Marsh tram stops.

Ambulance crews took the child to St George's Hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.

Witnesses said a child's Wellington boot was recovered from the area between the tracks after the accident.

It is unclear why the accident occurred but it has been claimed a warning sign at the pedestrian crossing was so heavily-covered in graffiti that it was virtually unreadable.

However Tramlink bosses said the the driver had just a few seconds' warning of the child being in his path as he was pulling into Waddon Marsh tram stop.

Tramlink has also suggested the child may have been on his own without adult supervision.

Roger Harding, general manager of Tramtrack which runs Tramlink, said: "We had a report of a child riding a bike across the tracks in front of a tram. The emergency services attended immediately and we understand he is being treated for a broken arm.

"After checking our CCTV, there didn't seem to be any other adults in the area.

"From looking at the CCTV images the tram was already braking as it was pulling into Waddon Marsh tram stop.

"Our driver had about three seconds notice of the little boy on the bike. Undoubtedly the driver is shaken up by the experience and he is now subject to the normal supportive reactions in place in incidents like these."

The accident is now being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).

When asked about whether the warning sign's visibility had been impaired because of graffiti, Mr Harding added: "I can't comment on whether that is the case, but I would consider whether or not a sign like this would have had any impact on a seven-year-old child riding his bike."

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said they were called to Purley Way just before 6.25pm between Ampere Way and Waddon Marsh tram stops, adding: "We sent two ambulances, two rapid response cars as well as an officer and a doctor.

"A five-year-old boy was taken to St George's Hospital with multiple injuries. From what the report says it looks like his injuries were quite a lot more serious than a broken arm.

"I don't think the child was on his own."

It took two hours to re-start the tram network which was a consequence of waiting for the RAIB to assess the incident, says Tramlink.

Passengers on the tram were taken off via the rear doors and escorted from the scene and then faced a delays as they waited for a 455 bus to complete their journey into Croydon.

• For an updated version of this story click here.