'He's lucky he didn't kill anyone': Tram crash driver fell asleep

A tram driver who crashed through a bus shelter and hit a fire hydrant in Ascot Vale early on Tuesday morning has admitted to police that he fell asleep.

A 49-year-old driver was asleep at the wheel when his number 57 Essendon tram slammed into a traffic light pole, damaging overhead lines and creating peak-hour traffic chaos for the morning in the city's north-west.

However, Sergeant Jason Doyle said charges were probably unlikely.

''At this stage we don't expect to be laying charges,'' he said. ''The tram driver appears to have fallen asleep from the report I have got.

''A careless drive charge, you actually can't be charged with that if you are asleep, you don't have control of your actions, he is probably going to face some fairly serious consequences from his employer I suspect,'' he said.

''My understanding is he admitted falling asleep and he's lucky he didn't kill anyone.''

Yarra Trams will conduct their own investigation and the driver, from Sunshine, has been stood down.

The empty tram slid off its tracks while turning on Maribyrnong Road onto Ascot Vale Road about 12.20am.

It took out a traffic pole and mounted a curb before settling on a footpath.

There were no passengers on the tram that derailed in Ascot Vale
Photo: Jason South

Fawkner Highway Patrol members are also investigating.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

''No matter what you are driving, no matter if it's a bicycle or a scooter or a tram or a truck ... don't do it while you are overtired. It's a recipe for disaster,'' Sergeant Doyle said.

Yarra Trams was left with the arduous task of trying to move the enormous tram, which according to its website can weigh as much as 30 rhinos, to the nearest tram depot in Essendon.

A derailed tram is returned to the tracks at the corner of Maribyrnong and Ascot Vale roads.
Photo: Jason South

A massive tow truck was sent in to help re-rail the tram, which workers were able to do about 6.30am.

A full recovery crew of engineers and mechanics worked on repairing the tram so it could be towed to Essendon depot about 7.30am.

Ascot Vale Road was re-opened before 8am.

The tram crash in Ascot Vale was one of several across the city that triggered significant peak-hour traffic problems.

A truck burst into flames on the Princes Freeway near Little River Road, causing traffic to be backed up for several kilometres as crews worked to clear the wreckage.

On the Eastern Freeway, where a truck reportedly hit a van, traffic was banked up all the way to Springvale Road.