36-year-old man charged

Jogger killed with forklift: Driver had been smoking pot

The jogger was hit and killed by the forklift during dismantling work at the Frequency site.(Bild: Attila Molnar)

The 53-year-old was killed in the tragic incident during the dismantling of the festival in St. Pölten. The 36-year-old forklift driver had smoked a joint the evening before, but his defense attorney did not find grossly negligent homicide. Trial adjourned! 

A tragic incident overshadowed the dismantling work at the Frequency Festival in St. Pölten on August 23. At around 12 noon, a 53-year-old woman died in the area along the Traisen river after being hit by a forklift while jogging.

A Viennese man was at the wheel and is now on trial for involuntary manslaughter. The 36-year-old was allegedly driving the six-tonne truck under the influence of drugs (cocaine and cannabis were detected in his blood) and without a driver's license. A collision occurred when the truck was pushed back.

Defendant pleads partially guilty
This was the third time the forklift driver had been working at Frequency. The accident site is clearly visible. "Where did the woman come from?" Mr. Rat wants to know from the defendant. But the man cannot answer this question. He will probably never forget the terrible screams: "I immediately called the ambulance and administered first aid," he explains. In vain.

"The woman was wearing earplugs and the road was freely accessible according to the decision," says the defense lawyer, noting no gross negligence. The trial at the St. Pölten Regional Court was adjourned indefinitely for further witnesses and additional expert opinions.