22. 10. 10. - 16:07

Freak theme park accident puts three in clinic

Three people were injured when a rollercoaster crashed against a crane in Vienna yesterday evening (Thurs).

Two young women from Slovakia were sitting in the high-speed "Volare" wagon as it steered into the crane's hoist which was set close to the rails of the attraction.

Macedonian painter Arben S., 21, sustained a serious head injuries when he fell eight metres to the concrete ground. He was working on a platform supported by the crane at the Prater amusement park when the crash occurred. One of the tourists riding the rollercoaster broke her arm, while her friend suffered cuts and bruises.

Police are now investigating whether negligent assault charges could be pressed against the manager of the attraction. The official accident report says the employee operating the rollercoaster was unaware the worker was busy on the scaffolding when he started up the ride. Newspapers, however, report that the attraction has been in operation many times while the painters were busy.

The Prater amusement park, located in the district of Leopoldstadt, is one of the federal capital’s main tourism hotspots. Every year tens of thousands of holidaymakers attend the amusement zone, which is free to enter, to go for a ride on the giant Riesenrad Ferris wheel or on one of the other attractions.

Write your comment to this article here