Second tourist hit at tram diversion blackspot

A TOURIST has been knocked down at an accident “blackspot” tram diversion – just weeks after another visitor was killed at the same place.

The man suffered leg injuries after a bus snared crash barriers while weaving through a diversion through Palmerston Place which then clipped the 43-year-old.

The blow sent him sprawling on to the ground. Onlookers rushed to his aid, while the driver of the Citylink bus is understood to have carried on without stopping.

Police are investigating the incident but no charges have yet been brought. The tourist was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for treatment.

The accident comes less than a month after an elderly tourist was killed by a van at Palmerston Place and follows residents’ calls to improve pedestrian safety amid soaring traffic levels due to tramworks elsewhere.

Resident Steve Livesey, 50, said he chased after the City-link bus to alert the driver to what had happened.

“The noise of the barriers being dragged along the road by the bus was horrific, so I don’t know how the driver didn’t hear the commotion,” said Mr Livesey.

“About five barriers were caught in what looked like the rear mudguard of the bus, dragged about 10 or 15 metres and struck this tourist waiting to cross the road.”

He added: “I have lived here for many years and haven’t been aware of any problems with pedestrian safety, then we have a fatality and an accident in one month. You can draw your own conclusions as to if you think it’s a blackspot but I think it is.”

The tourist – thought to be called Thomas – was said to be standing on the road behind temporary barriers when he was injured.

Traffic travelling along Palmerston Place has increased due to tram works at Atholl Place and West Maitland Street.

Last month, we told how Galina Tuyakova, 71, from Moscow, died when she was hit by a car at the junction with Rothesay Place – around 500 metres from the scene of Saturday’s collision.

A spokeswoman for Scottish Citylink said: “Police are investigating an incident in Edinburgh on Saturday which involved a third party bus provider who was operating on our behalf. Safety is our absolute priority and we will assist with the investigation in any way we can.”

A Police Scotland spokesman said their inquiries into the incident are “ongoing”. A spokesman for Edinburgh council said: “We are aware of an incident at the weekend near the junction of West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place. As is the case following any incident like this, we will support police as they make their inquiries.”

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