Was crushed

Oktoberfest Employee Dies in Horrific Accident

Following a fatal accident involving a ride operator at the Munich Oktoberfest, an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.(Bild: wikimedia.org/Stefan Scheer)

A security worker (52) was fatally injured in a tragic accident at a ride at the Oktoberfest in Munich. He was resuscitated and taken to a hospital, where he died early Tuesday morning.

According to the “Bild” newspaper, the accident occurred shortly before 10 p.m. at the “Hangover” free-fall tower. According to the report, the employee—a Serbian security guard—was in an area where he should not have been. There, the 52-year-old was apparently struck and crushed by a gondola in which passengers plunge downward. 

Police Seek Witnesses
The area around the attraction was cordoned off. A crisis intervention team provided support to eyewitnesses of the accident directly on site. The police are seeking additional witnesses who may have filmed the incident. According to the police, passengers were never in danger at any time.

An employee has died from his serious injuries following an accident on a ride at the Oktoberfest.(Bild: wikimedia.org/Stefan Scheer)

Mayor Deeply Distressed
Munich Mayor Dominik Krause reacted with dismay: “My thoughts are with the family of the man who died and the employees of the ride. I thank the emergency responders for their swift action,” the Green Party politician said.

Already the second accident this year
Just last Saturday, an incident occurred at the Wiesn: The “Predator” ride stopped abruptly while in motion, leaving about 40 people stuck upside down at a height of 16 meters for seven agonizing minutes. The malfunction was likely caused by a defective sensor. The TÜV inspected the ride again but then cleared it for operation.

The ride was inspected by the TÜV on Tuesday. The investigation has been taken over by Precinct 13 of the Munich Criminal Investigation Department, which is responsible for workplace accidents.

Hundreds of police officers on siteat the
 The Oktoberfest is considered the world’s largest folk festival; every year, millions of visitors flood the Theresienwiese in Munich. This year, until October 4, approximately 600 police officers, as well as hundreds of security guards and emergency responders, will be on site daily to provide advice and assistance regarding alcohol poisoning, pickpocketing, sexual harassment, and other issues.