In Kyiv, the police detained a 20-year-old man who, according to preliminary reports, whilst under the influence of alcohol, gained access to the driver’s cab of a tram, started it up and set off on the route through the city without authorisation. To stop the tram and avert a dangerous situation, staff at the transport company were forced to cut the power to the overhead lines. After his arrest, the man explained to the police that his actions were motivated by his love of travelling by tram.
- In Kyiv, a 20-year-old man took control of a tram without authorisation.
- He broke into the driver’s cab, started the train and set off through the town.
- According to preliminary information, the man was under the influence of alcohol.
He set the tram in motion without authorisation and set off on the route
According to the information available, the incident took place in Kyiv during the night. A 20-year-old man, who works as a mechanic, gained access to the driver’s cab of a tram and managed to set the tram in motion. He then drove along the tram tracks through the city without authorisation and without the necessary driving qualifications. Such a journey posed a potential danger both to the man himself and to other road users and the transport infrastructure.
In the photograph released by the police, the detainee can be seen in handcuffs next to a public transport carriage.
The tram had to be brought to a halt by cutting the power to the network
The man did not stop the journey of his own accord. In order to stop the tram, staff at the transport company were forced to switch off the power to the contact network.
After the power was cut, the carriage came to a halt and the police arrived at the scene. The man was arrested.
There are no reports of any casualties or serious damage to the tram.
«I really enjoy travelling by tram»
The detainee gave the police a rather unusual explanation for his actions: according to him, He really loves riding on trams.
At the same time, unauthorised operation of large rail vehicles could have had far more serious consequences. A tram runs on fixed tracks, is very heavy and requires special training to operate safely.
The police are establishing all the circumstances of the incident and determining how it should be classified under the law.
