Fatal bus accident on the A9 near Leipzig - trial begins

It was one of the worst bus accidents in recent years: the driver loses control of his vehicle on the A9 near Leipzig on March 27, 2024. The Flixbus with 54 people on board ploughed around 100 meters over the grass verge, rolled down bushes and small trees and finally crashed onto its side. Four women aged 19, 20, 43 and 47 died in the wreck, 46 passengers were injured, some of them seriously.

Almost two years later, the criminal trial against one of the two bus drivers begins this Friday (March 13). He has been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and 46 counts of involuntary bodily harm at the Eilenburg district court. The trial is not being held in Eilenburg due to the larger courtroom, but at Leipzig District Court. Only one trial day has been scheduled, so a verdict is expected on Friday.

Protective walls shield rescue operation

The double-decker bus crashed on March 27, 2024 on its way from Berlin to Zurich. There were 54 people on board, including two bus drivers. Several helicopters landed on the highway and ambulances raced to the scene of the accident between the Wiedemar junction and the Schkeuditzer Kreuz junction.

It took three hours before the crashed vehicle could be righted with the help of belts and the dead and injured could be removed from the interior. Mobile screens shielded the operation. Hospitals in the surrounding area had prepared for the large-scale operation, emergency rooms were alerted and operating theatres and diagnostic rooms were prepared for incoming patients.

Public prosecutor's office: driver lacked care

The 62-year-old driver at the time had lost control of the bus at almost 100 km/h, according to the public prosecutor's office. It assumes that the man failed to exercise the "care required in traffic" and thus caused the accident. The driver was not under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication. According to the expert opinion, the bus also had no technical defects. According to the bus company, the driver had been at the wheel since departure from Berlin at 8.00 am and had complied with all driving and rest times.

Discussion about compulsory seat belts in coaches

The serious accident has also reignited the discussion about compulsory seat belts in coaches. According to the Association of Central German Bus Companies, however, this is difficult to enforce. According to the head of the association, Mario König, the drivers do point this out at the start of the journey and after breaks, and there are signs at the seats. However, it is simply not feasible for bus drivers to carry out checks.

A spokesperson for the Dresden police also emphasized that it is more difficult to catch seatbelt offenders on the bus. Checks are usually carried out on sight as the bus passes by. Technical possibilities are also limited. A sensor for unbuckled seat belts, as is often installed in modern cars, would theoretically be possible, but would raise the alarm every time a passenger went to the toilet. Therefore, this technology, as in airplanes, is not practical.