(The following story by David Gambacorta appeared on the Philadelphia Daily News website on July 23.)
PHILADELPHIA — Eleven people were injured yesterday when three underground SEPTA trolleys collided at 13th and Market streets in Center City.
Two of the trolley cars were at a standstill when a third slammed into them from behind at about 4 p.m., said SEPTA spokesman Felipe Suarez.
“It caused a domino effect,” he said.
Two trolley operators were among the eight adults and three children who suffered minor injuries.
Suarez said they were taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for treatment.
The three trolleys were on routes 11, 13 and 34 on SEPTA’s green line. Suarez said service on the line was delayed for about an hour.
On Monday, SEPTA had to evacuate trolley passengers when downed wires caused a fire inside a trolley tunnel at 37th and Spruce streets in West Philadelphia. Eight people were injured in that incident.