Teenager dies after walking into Geneva tram

The streetcar was travelling toward the Place des Nations on the Rue de Lausanne when the victim crossed the road from a pavement outside the Pickwick Pub at around 5pm, according to media reports.

“A pedestrian noticeably inattentive was crossing and the tram hit him,” Jean-Philippe Brandt, spokesman for Geneva cantonal police said.

The teen, who was instantly killed, remained trapped under the tram for an hour and a half before his body could be extricated by fire fighters, 20 Minutes newspaper reported.

No information about the identity and nationality of the youth was initially disclosed.

The Tribune de Genève newspaper reported that a witness saw the victim wearing headphones and that the teen had seen a tram coming in one direction but not the one coming the opposite way that hit him.

The incident marked the second fatality on Geneva streets since the beginning of the year.

It resulted in major traffic jams as the Rue de Lausanne was closed from the city’s main train station to the Avenue de France.

Motor vehicle traffic was rerouted through the Pâquis neighbourhood while trams serving the United Nations were held up until 8.30pm.