Lorry hits pedestrians in southern Germany, killing 1 and wounding 4

DPA
·1 min read
Fire and rescue services work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa
Fire and rescue services work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa

One woman was killed and four people injured when a lorry driver accidentally ploughed into a group of pedestrians in the centre of the south-eastern German city of Passau on Friday, police said.

Police said the 63-year-old driver was making a delivery route when he drove onto the pavement of a shop-lined street in order to avoid a stopped bus. He hit several people.

Four people were seriously injured and helicoptered to hospital, including the 11-year-old daughter of the woman who died at the scene. The driver was also receiving treatment for his wounds.

The site was cordoned off after the crash took place at around 9:50 am (0850 GMT), with numerous police, fire and ambulance crews responding.

A police spokesperson rejected theories on social media that it could have been a deliberate act, saying: "We firmly believe it was a traffic accident."

An investigation was under way to clarify the exact circumstances of the accident. The lorry was towed away and will be examined in more detail by the police.

Passau, home to some 50,000 residents, sits on the border with Austria.

Emergency services from the police, fire department and ambulance work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa
Emergency services from the police, fire department and ambulance work at the scene in the city center after a truck has driven into a group of pedestrians in Passau city center, injuring several people and killing one woman. The lorry driver is also on his way to hospital, said a police spokesman. -/Zema Medien/dpa