Car accident

36-Year-Old Sets Fire and Dies While Fleeing

The entire facade was engulfed in flames.(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

Dramatic scenes unfolded early Wednesday morning in Vorarlberg: A 36-year-old man is alleged to have set a fire in his apartment and in the underground garage of the apartment building. He then fled the scene in his car—and was killed in a crash.

Around 2:30 a.m., the man is said to have set the fire in the apartment and the garage in Au-Rehmen in the Bregenz district. Six fire departments responded to the scene; by the time emergency crews arrived, the facade of the apartment building was already fully engulfed in flames.

Fire spread rapidly
The fire spread to several balconies. The roof deck and roof trusses were also engulfed in flames. At least two vehicles were damaged in the underground garage.

In the meantime, the 36-year-old had fled the scene in his car. He sped toward Warth. At the Tannberg Bridge in Schröcken, he lost control of his vehicle and veered off the road. The man did not survive the serious accident.

Investigations into the motives are ongoing
The circumstances surrounding the arson committed by the 36-year-old are currently under investigation by officers from the Au Police Department and the Vorarlberg State Criminal Police Office. No one was injured in the fire.