Flixbus driver goes to court after fatal accident in Zurich
Published: Wednesday, May 29th 2024, 04:50
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A Flixbus driver is to stand trial for involuntary manslaughter at Zurich District Court today (Wednesday). Two people died when the bus crashed on Zurich's Sihlhochstrasse in 2018.
The public prosecutor's office has charged the 62-year-old driver with multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter and assault as well as negligent and gross violation of traffic regulations. They are requesting a conditional prison sentence of two years, with a probationary period of two years. The defense lawyer will present her motion at the trial.
The Flixbus had an accident on the A3W highway in the city of Zurich shortly after four o'clock in the morning. The driver did not take the exit ramp at the end of the two-lane Sihlhochstrasse highway, which ends above the Sihl - instead, he drove into the stub of the highway and crashed into the concrete wall at the end.
One passenger was thrown from the bus; she fell into the Sihl, where she drowned unconscious. The second driver was trapped and so badly injured that he died in hospital two weeks later. 42 passengers suffered injuries, only five escaped unharmed.
30 km/h would have been appropriate
According to the prosecutor's indictment, the cause of the accident was clearly excessive speeding. The speed limit on the well-lit elevated road is 60 km/h. In view of the snow and ice, 30 km/h would have been appropriate for buses.
According to the indictment, the driver was driving at 68 km/h when he braked for the first time 136 meters before the collision. He then accelerated again. He did not initiate emergency braking until 42 meters before the concrete wall. The vehicle crashed into the barrier at 48 km/h.
According to the indictment, the serious accident could have been prevented: If the driver had not taken his foot off the brake, the bus would have come to a standstill 38 meters from the wall despite the excessive speed. An emergency stop would also have been sufficient at the second braking point - if the speed had been adapted to the conditions. The Italian driver was either inattentive or overwhelmed by the situation.
©Keystone/SDA
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