In fact, they just wanted to experience what it’s like to whiz down a bobsleigh track at breakneck speed. But the sleigh ride turned into a horror trip for a German couple.
As the “Bild” reports, a serious accident occurred on Thursday evening on a bobsleigh track in the winter sports resort of Oberhof, in the state of Thuringia.
Impact at 90 km/h
The pair traveled down the bobsleigh track in interconnected twin tubing rings called “Ice Tubes”. The ride ended horribly in the finish area: an approaching four-man bob slammed into the hose rings and also hit the two spouses. The two were immediately taken to hospital. There the man († 45) succumbed to his injuries a little later. His wife (46), who was also seriously injured, is currently fighting for her life.
The criminal investigation department of Thüringen has launched an investigation into the course of the accident. The bob was driven by a 22-year-old professional bobsledder. It had a prominent crew on board: the Thuringian state secretary Torsten Weil (52), the mayor of Halle, Katja Müller (43) and the forest ranger of Oberhof, Jan Pietzko (37), were in the vehicle. They race around the track at a speed of 110 km/h.
Start despite the red traffic light
But then, just before the last corner, comes the scare moment. Suddenly, the snake ring containing the pair appears in front of the pilot. There is an instant message. “Bob brake! Brake Bob!” and “Get out of the pipes now!” the railway supervisor yells over the loudspeaker. But every warning comes too late. It comes to a crash.
The question that now arises is: how could such a disaster happen? After all, the Oberhof bobsleigh track is one of the most modern installations in the world. There are traffic lights, light screens and camera surveillance.
According to information from “Bild”, the couple would have started at a red light and even been pushed by employees. The four-man bob, on the other hand, adhered to the regulations and started on green.
Railway closed until further notice
Several onlookers witnessed the tragedy up close. The railway company has taken the first measures: “We have closed the railway line with immediate effect until the cause has been clarified,” Sebastian Lenk of the Thuringian Winter Sports Center Association told “Bild”. The youth games scheduled for Friday and the weekend have been cancelled.
The Prime Minister of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow (67), has already responded to the accident. The politician expressed his displeasure on Twitter. “The terrible accident on the Oberdorf bobsleigh track has cost someone’s life. I mourn the loss of the deceased with the next of kin, hope for a speedy recovery for the injured and thank the helpers who worked tirelessly last night.”
The bobsleigh track is available for both professional bobsleigh and leisure events. Visitors can ride down the rink in snake rings or in a bobsled driven by a professional. (ceded)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
