Tram driver knocked out in rock attack

Photo: Matty Worrall

HORROR . . . The smashed windscreen of the tram after rock thrown at it from a footbridge north of the Derker Metrolink stop, causing injuries to the driver's face and chest

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A TRAM driver struck when a large rock smashed his window was knocked unconscious, investigating police have revealed.

As reported in yesterday's Chronicle, the tram was travelling between Derker and Shaw and Crompton at 9.40pm on Monday when the rock was thrown, smashing through the windscreen and hitting the driver in the chest with the broken glass cutting his face.

Detectives are now appealing for information and say he fell unconscious before being taken to hospital, but has since been discharged. Although passengers were on the tram at the time, no one else was injured.

"Officers believe the stone was dropped from a footbridge that leads from Meek Street in Royton.

Detective Sergeant Allison Dyson, from Oldham CID, said: "I would appeal to anyone walking on that bridge that may have seen anyone acting suspicious to please call police. This was a mindless act that could have had devastating consequences and I'm just grateful the driver didn't suffer life-threatening injuries and no passengers were injured.

"If you did this, and perhaps you didn't realise what happened as a result of throwing that stone, please do the right thing and come forward to police.

"We will continue to review CCTV and carry out inquiries, while any information from the public could be vital to this investigation."

Meanwhile, another tram was taken out of service yesterday after yobs smashed the windows at Sale Water Park.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 2476 of 8 May 2017 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.