TRIBUTES have been paid to a Bulwell teenager who died after being hit by a tram.
Lindsey Inger, 13, died after the collision on the crossing near Bestwood Village on Wednesday evening.
Friends and relatives of Lindsey left flowers close to the crossing yesterday and dozens of tributes to her were posted on social networking sites.
One close friend, Connell Buckley, 16, said Lindsey was with two friends and spoke to him moments before the tragedy.
"They were at the bus stop with me, then they left and then her friends came running back," he said. "They were crying and saying she'd been hit by a tram.
"She was such a nice girl."
He added: "Having a bridge there would make a difference. I'm still thinking about her now."
Connell lives with his parents, Tracey and Colin Buckley, in Millbank Place, near the crossing.
Mr Buckley, 49, said: "There needs to be a warning system. You can easily forget it's not just a footpath and the trams are very quiet."
Mrs Buckley said: "It needs addressing – I bet the tram driver is in shock.
"Your heart goes out to Lindsey's family and everyone involved."
Laurence Hoggart, whose wife, Jean, 65, and grandson Michael Dawson, 7, died at the same tram and rail crossing four years ago, also spoke of his thoughts for Lindsey's family.
He told the Post: "I drove past the scene on the evening of the accident and knew straight away what had happened.
"The memory of that awful event suddenly and unexpectedly came rushing back.
"I cannot speak about it without feeling a terrible sense of grief.
"You never get over the loss of loved ones and I only wish I could offer some comfort for her family, who will be going through their own particular hell."
Mr Hoggart said he "could not understand" why a bridge had not been put in at the crossing.
Sherwood MP Mark Spencer said more measures would be needed.
"Obviously, we need to establish the facts first," he said. "We have got to put some investigations in place. We are going to have to end up with a bridge or improved barriers of some sort."
Neil Wood, general manager of tram operator NET, said: "We have launched our own internal inquiry into the incident and, of course, are co-operating fully with the police crash investigation team and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch."
A Network Rail spokesman said: "The tragic incident did not occur on Network Rail infrastructure but, as it is close to the railways, Network Rail is fully co-operating with the police investigation into this."
Notts Police are appealing for witnesses.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact the force's crash investigation team on 101 extension 800 2225.
