"A shock to everyone"

Father and longtime fire chief killed

Johann P. (right) stepped down from his post last year—now the Rain Volunteer Fire Department mourns the loss of its longtime commander.(Bild: FF Rain)

“Johann’s death leaves a huge void. We are all deeply shaken”—the flag is flying at half-mast at the Rain Fire Department in Esternberg (Upper Austria). That’s because the 56-year-old motorcyclist, who was killed by a local drunk driver, was the long-time chief. And his entire family is also active in the fire department.

“What can one say? The whole town is deeply shaken”—Esternberg’s mayor, Rudolf Haas, has nothing but the highest praise for the deceased: friendly, reliable, a family man...