Eyewitnesses of horror tram crash which killed girl share shock and disbelief at tragedy

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Eyewitnesses of a horrific road crash this morning which killed a young child have shared their shock and disbelief, as tributes pour in for the three-year-old girl.

A van collided with a tram on a busy road in Manchester city centre at around 10am on Saturday, February 22, before reportedly careering on to the pavement and striking the young girl.

Emergency services, including two air ambulances were scrambled to the scene on Mosley Street and she was rushed to hospital, but tragically later died from her injuries, police confirmed.

Officers are urgently trying to track down the van driver after they fled the scene, with enquiries into the crash ongoing, the Manchester Evening News reports.

Onlookers expressed their shock and sadness as news of the tragedy emerged, with flowers already left at the police cordon. However, local residents and businesses spoke about how crashes at the same spot, at the junction with Booth Street, happen "all the time".

David, who works in 200 Degrees coffee shop, said his colleagues didn't see the collision but 'heard it'.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "We checked our CCTV and could pretty much see what happened. The tram was coming down the road and had made its noise. The van didn't stop and tried to go over.

"The tram was across the road and the van came out. The tram hit the van and the van carried on. It basically took the front of the tram with it. I didn't see it on the other side but apparently someone got injured, a girl. So as the van has gone over I imagine it got pushed onto the pavement. So the tram hit the van and the van kept on going."

According to David, the collision happened at around 9:55am, and said the first emergency vehicles arrived 'within five minutes'.

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He continued: "We didn't see anyone, but we came out to have a look. I'd seen the police running and I thought - police don't run. If it was just a crash, the police wouldn't be running. And they don't wear gloves. So someone is obviously injured. Then we saw the two ambulances and thought yeah, someone has definitely been hit."

David said staff who have worked at the coffee shop longer claimed crashes happen at the junction 'all the time'. He added: "I don't know what else can be done though, because the tram makes a noise, and it's a busy tram line. It's just a case of common sense, just stop."

He said the van did not appear to be travelling 'abnormally fast'. He said: "It was just the case that it didn't stop. It thought it could beat the tram but the tram was too far for it to even think about stopping."

Pedestrians in the city centre were also not surprised to see a crash at this junction. One said: "It's because there's just a stop sign. There needs to be lights."

Others shared their disbelief at hearing a young child had died. One woman said: "I don't even know what to say to that. That is so awful. Just three years old."

Staff at another local business said they knew there was somebody injured following the crash, but didn't realise how serious the situation was. Another woman said: "We heard someone got run over but we didn’t know what happened. That's awful."

Tributes have also flooded in on social media. Ann Marie wrote: "My daughter is same age next month cant imagine what the family r going through. sat here in tears. My heart literally goes out to the family xx."

Sue Thurston said: "A very sad loss at such a tender young age. She hadn't even started life properly yet. Rest in peace with the Angels lovely and sending my thoughts and prayers to her poor Family."

No arrests have been made yet, with Greater Manchester Police saying enquiries are ongoing. In a statement, the force said: "Emergency services are responding to reports of a collision involving a tram and a van in Manchester city centre.

"A three-year-old girl was taken to hospital and has sadly passed away from her injuries. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."

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