Drama after tent party

Woman dead after accident: drunk driver (22) has to go to prison

August 3, 2024: A woman lost her life in southern Burgenland through no fault of her own.(Bild: Stadtfeuerwehr Oberwart)

A man from southern Burgenland caused a fatal crash at 157 km/h and with a blood alcohol level of 1.87: the oncoming driver (48) had no chance.

It was the very first time he had ever got behind the wheel while drunk, says the 22-year-old at Eisenstadt Regional Court, where he is on trial for gross negligence manslaughter and negligent bodily harm.

Crashed into oncoming traffic
On August 3, 2024 at 5.45 a.m., the man from southern Burgenland fell asleep in a 100 km/h zone. The car touched the crash barrier, spun on its own axis and crashed into oncoming traffic without braking. A woman (48) had no chance, she succumbed to her injuries on the spot. Three men suffered broken bones and bruises. The man had 1.87 per mille alcohol in his blood.

True greatness
Shortly before the verdict was announced, he took the opportunity to apologize to the husband and son of the victim in the courtroom. "I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart!" The answer: "We're not angry with him. He's still very young. We just want him to understand what he's done."

"It's still possible"
What did he do? He went to a tent party. He wanted to drink from midnight, so he parked the car and put it in the driveway of a friend's house, where he had often stayed overnight. He had "actually consumed all the drinks" and then thought, "I'm still okay. And then, unfortunately, I got in."

He didn't notice the serious accident. "I only regained consciousness when they cut me out of the car."

Gross negligence
The judge brings several components into play in her verdict: Alcohol. Speed. Fatigue. Darkness. "Gross negligence is absolutely given," she says, before the 22-year-old is given a partial sentence of up to three years: 15 months in prison, five of which are unconditional. Lawyer and prosecutor make no statement - not legally binding.