Bridge Collapse in Linz: Three Reports to Clarify Causes

One from the construction industry on the bridge's structural integrity, one from a vehicle expert on the accident's circumstances, and a forensic medical report on the driver's blood analysis regarding possible impairing substances, a spokeswoman for the public prosecutor's office informed on Monday.

The truck collided with the bridge on the morning of July 16, causing a 50-ton component to crash onto the driver's cab. The 22-year-old driver and the 18-year-old passenger were trapped inside and could only be freed after a complex rescue operation and admitted to the Linz Kepler University Clinic, where they underwent several hours of surgery. Meanwhile, the men are each in a regular ward and, according to the clinic, are on the road to recovery.

Pedestrian Bridge Collapsed in Linz

As is customary in traffic accidents involving personal injury, the public prosecutor's office has initiated investigations for negligent bodily harm (of the passenger) against the driver. Since no alcohol test could be conducted at the accident site, the forensic doctor will examine the blood taken at the hospital, according to the public prosecutor's spokeswoman. The vehicle expert has been tasked with clarifying whether and why the crane on the truck's loading area was not fully retracted, causing it to hit the bridge. The question of whether the pedestrian crossing should have withstood the impact is the subject of the third report. According to the public prosecutor's office, the experts have three months to complete their reports.

(APA/Red)

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