Dangerous operation

Driver ignored road closure: car plunged into ditch

The driver ignored the roadblock.(Bild: FF Vorau)

After last week's storms, several roads in Eastern Styria also had to be closed due to imminent danger. No matter, thought the driver of an Audi in Vorau on Sunday morning, and simply drove on. But he didn't get very far. He ended up in the ditch.

No more sleeping in for the fire department volunteers. Shortly after 5.30 a.m., the Vorau fire brigade was called out to a vehicle recovery in Puchegg, a district of Vorau. When they arrived, they couldn't believe their eyes. Three young men had simply disregarded a driving ban that had been imposed on this section of road due to the heavy storms.

Accident on a closed road
Out of stupidity or ignorance, the driver continued to drive on the badly damaged local road until his Audi estate car slipped into the ditch, which was around half a meter deep. Part of the road had been washed away by the storms.

The municipal excavator had to be brought to the scene of the accident to assist.(Bild: FF Vorau)

Why the boys did not take the roadblock seriously remains a question. Perhaps the detour was too far for them.(Bild: FF Vorau)

Firefighters themselves in danger
As the firefighters were unable to safely drive their emergency vehicles to the scene of the accident to recover the car using a cable winch, the municipal excavator from the market town of Vorau had to be called in to assist. The driver and his two passengers were uninjured.

After two hours, the operation was over for the 17 firefighters. In conclusion, all that remains is the fire department's urgent appeal: "Please keep to the road closures!" Because they have a reason ...