Fatal collision at level crossing: local politicians killed by S-Bahn

Created: 04/05/2022 11:56 am

By: Andrea Rost

After the fatal accident at a level crossing in Kriftel (Main-Taunus district), people express their sympathy.

© 5Vision

For ten years, the municipality of Kriftel in the Main-Taunus district has been calling for a level crossing to be made safer.

Another person died in an accident there.

Kriftel – The member of the Main-Taunus district council and Krifteler community representative Werner Moritz-Kiefert was hit by an S-Bahn at the Paul-Duden-Straße level crossing in Kriftel on Sunday evening (03.04.2022) and fatally injured.

As reported by the police, the visually impaired 74-year-old stepped onto the semi-guarded level crossing with his assistance dog despite the closed barrier *.

The train driver initiated emergency braking, but was unable to prevent the collision.

It was not until mid-March that a twelve-year-old boy was hit by an S-Bahn at the same level crossing and died, as reported by fr.de.

The municipality of Kriftel has been trying since 2012 to make the level crossing on Paul-Duden-Strasse safer*.

said the first deputy Franz Jirasek yesterday.

At that time, a cyclist had a fatal accident on the spot.

So far, all efforts have been unsuccessful.

According to Jirasek, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is responsible for safety at the level crossing.

After the accident ten years ago, the municipality immediately contacted them to ensure that a full barrier was installed instead of the half barrier or that an acoustic warning system warned passers-by of the approaching train when the barrier was down, said Jirasek

Kriftel (Main-Taunus-Kreis): "Bahn see no reason to change anything"

"Several letters went unanswered, two on-site appointments were canceled.

Only months later, in August 2012, did we receive the first interim notification that the system was state-of-the-art.

A further check by the planning department was promised.

In March 2013, there was an official letter from DB-Netz with the information that Deutsche Bahn saw no reason to change anything.” The reasoning: the applicable guidelines are being followed and there is no obligation to make the transition accessible to people with disabilities.

Anyone who displays "illegal conduct" is responsible for this themselves.

In addition, acoustic signals are generally not provided in order to avoid noise pollution for residents.

"In 2014 we followed up on the matter again," said Jirasek.

But nothing had happened.

"After two fatal accidents within a few weeks, we will now turn to the railways again and hold them accountable," emphasized the Krifteler deputy.

(Andrea Rost)