The driver of the Milan tram that derailed and crashed into a restaurant last month, killing two people and injuring around 50, and who is under investigation for culpable manslaughter, was on the phone until 12 seconds before the impact, according to police phone records cited by three Italian dailies Friday.
According to local police investigations, the driver of tram 9, which derailed on February 27 in Milan, was on the phone until at least twelve seconds before his vehicle missed a stop, entered a left-bound switch at fifty miles per hour, and crashed into the building, said Corriere della Sera, la Repubblica, and Il Giorno.
The driver's lawyer responded by saying his client wasn't on the phone at the moment of impact, according to GPS and phone data.
The 60-year-old driver, who had never previously had an accident in 35 years on the job, reportedly said he lost control of the tram after having a bad turn.
He is being probed for causing a rail disaster, culpable manslaughter and bodily harm.
