Major incident in Vienna

Car crashes into subway: Viennese evacuated

On Friday evening, a Vienna subway train crashed into a construction site carriage.(Bild: Leserreporter)

Just outside the Schottentor stop on Friday evening, a subway train crashed into a construction site vehicle - which had probably detached itself beforehand. Vienna's professional rescue service confirmed to the "Krone" that several people were injured.

A large contingent of ambulances and firefighters immediately rushed to Schottentor.

What had happened? According to a spokesperson for the professional fire department, the subway train on the U2 line crashed into a construction vehicle just before the Schottentor stop, which had come loose from its anchoring and rolled onto the tracks. For around 30 minutes, 120 passengers had to wait in the subway train until they could be evacuated.

The damage appears to have been minor - thanks in part to the driver.(Bild: Leserreporter)

Driver apparently prevented a fatal outcome
Apparently, the driver was able to prevent more serious injuries by not braking too hard. "The subway train driver initiated an orderly emergency stop and hit the construction vehicle at a reduced speed," said the spokesperson. Thanks to the driver's "thoughtful and cautious behavior, worse was prevented". The driver received psychological support from the Wiener Linien crisis team immediately after the incident.

I was in shock.

Fahrgast

Six slightly injured
"I was in shock and just left quickly", a reader reporter from the "Krone" described the minutes of fear. 

There were six minor injuries, including the driver, who were discharged into home care. All 120 passengers were medically checked in a so-called evacuation bus.  

The passengers have now all been evacuated.(Bild: Leserreporter, Krone KREATIV)

(Bild: Leserreporter, Krone KREATIV)

(Bild: Leserreporter)

"All passengers underwent an initial medical examination. An emergency doctor was also on site," said a spokesperson. The accident "appears to have ended relatively lightly". The subway train was probably not too densely packed.

Thanks to the thoughtful and careful behavior of the driver, worse was prevented.

Sprecher der Berufsrettung Wien

U2 service restricted until Saturday morning
The U2 only ran between Taborstraße and Seestadt until the accident was rectified, a spokeswoman for Wiener Linien told the "Krone". Since 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, the U2 has been running regularly again between Seestadt and Schottentor. The exact cause of the accident will be clarified in the coming days, it said.