Two women injured

Distracted by navigation system – woman crashes car and tree

The Renault of the person responsible for the accident was badly damaged.(Bild: mathis.studio/Stefan Zangerl)

A navigation system should actually make driving easier and safer. However, this is not always the case, as was demonstrated on Saturday afternoon in Rankweil. A 60-year-old driver was so distracted that she caused a major crash that ended in hospital for her and the other driver.

A 22-year-old woman was driving her dark, Swiss-registered Skoda estate car on Appenzeller Straße towards the town center at around 2.35 pm. At the same time, the 60-year-old driver of a blue Renault was driving along Loretoweg towards the junction with Appenzeller Straße.

Disastrous glance at the sat nav
According to the police, she intended to cross Appenzeller Straße straight ahead in the direction of Merowinger Straße - but the woman, who was unfamiliar with the area, was so distracted by her navigation system that she drove into the intersection without braking, where she subsequently collided with the 22-year-old woman's Skoda. The force of the collision caused the 60-year-old woman's Renault to skid away and come to a halt next to the kerb on Appenzeller Strasse.

The 22-year-old's Skoda hit a tree.(Bild: mathis.studio/Stefan Zangerl)

A passenger in the estate car was only slightly injured.(Bild: mathis.studio/Stefan Zangerl)

The emergency services were quickly on the scene.(Bild: mathis.studio/Stefan Zangerl)

The woman who caused the accident had to be taken to Feldkirch Regional Hospital with undetermined injuries.(Bild: mathis.studio/Stefan Zangerl)

Women had to be taken to hospital
The other vehicle was deflected head-on towards a traffic sign and a tree in the intersection area as a result of the collision. The collision triggered the airbags in both cars. Both drivers were injured to an indeterminate degree and had to be taken to Feldkirch Regional Hospital after initial treatment at the scene by the emergency services, who had arrived with an emergency vehicle and two ambulances. A passenger in the 22-year-old's Skoda was only slightly injured in the accident.