Convertible driver in court: Would he have hit the boy intentionally?

Convertible driver in court: Would he have hit the boy intentionally?

Millions of road traffic accidents are recorded in Germany every year, and the sad story of an accident that occurred in Prora on Rügen in August last year is currently in focus. A 47-year-old convertible driver has to answer for grievous bodily harm after he is said to have hit a 13-year-old student who was on his way to a supermarket with friends. The public prosecutor's office made serious allegations, and the case caused a stir not only locally but nationwide. According to the South German newspaper The defendant is accused of having fled shortly after the incident.

The start of the trial, which took place at the district court in Bergen, led to an emotional exchange of blows. The 47-year-old vehemently denies the allegations and describes the boy as a rather mature teenager who suddenly ran into the street. The defendant stated that he saw no reason to act intentionally. His concept includes the claim that he only turned around because he had forgotten something at home. After the crash, there were conflicting witness accounts that made extremely serious allegations against the driver. Several of the student's classmates testified that the defendant intentionally lost control of his vehicle and drove specifically toward the boy. NDR mentioned that the child suffered a traumatic brain injury after the accident, but got up and returned to his youth hostel.

The course of the process

The charges are grievous bodily harm, hit-and-run and dangerous interference in traffic. The court will hear the arguments and announce a verdict in the coming days. Clarifying the circumstances is particularly important because the accident raises fundamental questions about road safety. There were around 2.5 million road traffic accidents in Germany in 2023. While the number of accidents with property damage is constantly increasing, the number of personal injuries remains at a similar level to previous decades. This is also reflected in the data from Statista, which notes, among other things, that around 15,700 alcohol-related accidents with personal injuries are registered every year. This shows that road safety remains one of the central issues of our time.

The frightening incident in Prora will certainly serve as a warning example of responsibility in road traffic. The 47-year-old defendant will now have to spend the next few days in court, while the fates of those involved and witnesses continue to be intertwined. A decision is pending that not only affects the defendant, but also all road users who use the roads every day.