Essendon grandmother Nancy Hay, 99, killed in tram crash after ‘Give Way’ sign faded

Authorities failed to implement “simple” safety measures until after 99-year-old woman rode her mobility scooter into the path of Melbourne tram.

Nancy Hay, 99, was riding her mobility scooter across a dangerous, poorly-maintained pedestrian crossing when she was hit by a route 59 tram. Picture: Nicole Garmston (file photo)

An elderly woman who rode her mobility scooter into the path of a tram on Mt Alexander Rd in Essendon probably might not have died if a “give way” sign hadn’t been left to fade until it was unreadable.

Nancy Hay, 99, succumbed to her injuries hours after she was struck by a 34t, route 59 tram while crossing the road near a substandard tram stop in February 2023.

A coronial investigation into Ms Hay’s death found a litany of errors at the crossing, including a “Give Way to Tram” sign that was “faded and no longer legible”, and vegetation that blocked visibility for pedestrians.

Yarra Trams, Victoria Police, the Department of Transport and the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator all investigated the crash, with each concluding shoddy upkeep of the dangerous pedestrian was to blame.

Nancy Hay, 99, was killed when she was struck by a route 59 tram on Mt Alexander Rd in Essendon.

The fatal crash occurred in broad daylight, with the tram travelling at just 19km/h.

A Victoria Police crash investigator concluded Ms Hay did not give way to the tram because of the faded sign.

The Department of Transport replaced faded signs at the intersection within weeks of Ms Hay’s death.

Moonee Valley Council also pruned overgrown vegetation, which had reached 1.8m in height and blocked tram drivers’ views of pedestrians, especially children and people who use wheelchairs or scooters.

Nancy Hay, 99, was killed when she was struck by a route 59 tram on Mt Alexander Rd in Essendon. Picture: Supplied/Google

Yarra Trams found the tram was in excellent mechanical condition, having been serviced just five days before Ms Hay died. The driver, Sia Clarke, was found to have hit the tram’s emergency brakes “immediately” in a failed attempt to avoid hitting Ms Hay.

The rail safety regulator found Yarra Trams might have broken railway safety laws, but chose not to lay charges over the potential breaches.

The department is considering closing the tram stop all together, judging it to be a “complex and busy junction with competing demands for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and tram and bus services”.

Coroner Catherine Fitzgerald formally recommended Yarra Trams and the department complete a network-wide assessment of so-called “legacy” tram stops, which do not meet modern safety standards, by September this year.