A fatal accident occurred in the Salzburger Land on June 30th.
A winter sports legend was involved and is now under psychological treatment.
Mittersill - On June 30, 2021, a 35-year-old man got off his road and rammed an oncoming vehicle in the municipality of Mittersill, Salzburg. There was a 70-year-old behind the wheel, next to him a 68-year-old passenger. The driver was trapped in the impact and died at the scene of the accident, the 68-year-old seriously injured. The person who caused the accident, the 35-year-old, is Austrian winter sports legend Benjamin Karl, according to press reports and statements from the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV).
The fire brigade tried to free the 70-year-old from the vehicle using mountain shears, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident.
The Salzburg police recorded the accident.
As reported by several media outlets, including OE24, Karl is said to be on his way home from training when he was surprised by a hail shower.
Whether the hail is the cause is still being determined.
“There was a massive fall in the weather with heavy rain and hail”, reported the fire brigade operations manager Roland Rauchbacher of the newspaper Krone - and explains: “The accident happened right after an avalanche gallery on Felbertauernstrasse, the drivers involved could have been surprised by the freak weather be."
Winter sports star Benjamin Karl involved in an accident
Karl is a five-time snowboard world champion and won the silver medal at the Olympics in Vancouver (2010).
In 2014 in Sochi, he made the jump to the podium, he won Olympic bronze.
In addition to the successes at events, he achieved 18 World Cup victories and three times the overall World Cup.
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Benjamin Karl, here at the parallel giant slalom on January 9, 2021.
© picture alliance / dpa / KEYSTONE |
Gian Ehrenzeller
As reported in the Austrian media, the condition of the passenger is still uncertain.
As the pictures of the volunteer fire brigade show, the bad weather conditions can definitely be seen.
Winter sports star Benjamin Karl in psychological treatment
The ÖSV confirmed a shocked Karl on request, as reported by OE24. "Karl is deeply affected by this tragic event". He and his family expressed their condolences: "Your thoughts go with the victim's family," the statement reads. The snowboarder is currently undergoing psychological treatment. (ank)
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