The tragic death of a German snowboarder (29) in December in the Mayrhofen ski area in Tyrol’s Zillertal is being brought before the Innsbruck court today, Friday. A 61-year-old driver of a snowplow must answer on suspicion of murder by gross negligence.
Locals allegedly carried a snow cannon from the left to the right edge of the piste on December 7 “without any real necessity and without an acoustic signal” during ongoing snowplow skiing operations. He is said to have overlooked a previously fallen 29-year-old snowboarder from Germany and rolled over.
His view was limited by the snow cannon loaded on the track, “so that he could overlook the snowboarder,” according to the lawsuit.
Bergbaan: “Personal decision of the driver”
The Mayrhofner Bergbahnen had emphasized in the days after the accident that it was a long-time, experienced employee who was known to be extremely careful. But it also said, “The ride was a personal decision of the employee, for which there was no warrant.” The Alpine Police had already established during the first investigation that driving a snowcat while skiing was not allowed.
There is a risk of up to three years in prison
According to the defense, the 61-year-old has already admitted that he made the trip “without operational necessity”. Only in very few cases is an “operational necessity” given, the movements during use must be kept to an absolute minimum. The suspect faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
Source: Krone
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