Shocking footage has been released showing passengers being violently thrown around during a fatal tram crash.
The images show standing passengers suddenly being slammed to the ground, flung from side to side or hurled into those seated.
Two people were killed and 54 injured in the accident, which happened on the afternoon of 27 February.
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The footage has been released as part of the investigation into why the correct switch was not activated.
The tram left the tracks after taking a curve at almost 50km/h (31mph) before striking a tree and changing direction.
It finally came to a stop when it smashed into a building, as reported by Need To Know.
Ferdinando “Rudy” Favia and Okon Johnson Lucky were thrown from the tram and landed on the tarmac.
Ferdinando died at the scene, while 49-year-old Okon, from Nigeria, died at a hospital in Milan, Italy, less than two hours later.
The driver, Pietro M., is under investigation for manslaughter, causing injury through negligence and causing a railway disaster.
The 60-year-old told investigators he had suffered a medical episode and that “everything went black”, causing him to lose control.
Pietro, who has 34 years of experience, attributed the blackout to persistent pain after striking his left big toe against the wheelchair of a disabled passenger he had helped board about half an hour earlier.
A medical examination of his foot at the time revealed a badly bruised toe whose nail had come off.
He was later diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and head trauma.
A camera inside the tram pointing at the driver was not recording at the time because of regulations protecting workers.
Ferdinando’s partner, Flores Calderon, said the tram had been travelling “incredibly fast”.
“Suddenly we saw everyone being thrown from side to side,” she said.
“Luckily, Rudy held me up – I lost consciousness. I must have taken a blow, because after that I don’t remember anything.”
Investigators say the two most likely explanations for the crash are a blackout or a distraction.
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