By Joe Scott
An accident Thursday put the St. Charles trolley service out of service for a several days.
According to St. Charles police report, a black Jeep Cherokee was eastbound on Veterans Memorial Parkway near the St. Charles Convention Center when it crossed the center line and struck the trolley's front end.
The trolley driver told police he saw the Jeep swerve across the center line and was able to stop the westbound trolley before the impact. Four people, including the trolley driver and two trolley passengers, were taken by ambulance to SSM St. Joseph Health Center, where they were treated and released.
Carol Felzien, spokeswoman for the city, said the trolley involved in the accident was a backup vehicle. The regular trolley was undergoing routine maintenance. She said trolley service was expected to be restored by Wednesday.
She did not have an estimate of the amount of damage. The trolley involved in the accident could be out of service for two to four weeks for repairs.
The trolley could be out of service in 2011. Mayor Patti York and City Council members have discussed discontinuing trolley service to save $60,000 in the city's tourism budget, or using the trolley only during certain events, such as Christmas Traditions.
