Only in Vienna in 2022 there were more motorists who just drove away after an accident with personal injury than in Upper Austria. Unfortunately, the general trend is upwards. Some cases have been unsolved for years, others are still very young.
In September 2021, 20-year-old Adrian G. was run over by a car in Linz and killed. There is no trace of the steering wheel. The same applies to 19-year-old Jeanette, who was run over a few days ago in Mattsee (Sbg.) in the border area with Upper Austria. The Totenlenker also committed a hit-and-run there.
An act that is anything but a trivial offense and is not that uncommon – especially in Upper Austria. Because only Vienna had more personal injury accidents in 2022 where a driver simply stepped on the accelerator and drove away instead of stopping. In Upper Austria this was the case 326 times (the highest number since 2018), in the federal capital it was 770. In the accidents in the country above the Enns, 386 people were injured last year and, in contrast to previous years, there were were no fatalities. Things looked very different in 2019, when four people were killed in Upper Austria alone and the drivers then fled. In 2022 there were “only” seven people in all of Austria.
Hit-and-run penalties are relatively low. This is also due to the fact that hit and run in Austria is not regulated in the penal code, but is an administrative offense. Depending on the severity of the injuries, the range is between a fine (administrative fine) and up to three years imprisonment.
The police’s clear-up rate, especially in serious cases, is very high (about 70 percent), which is mainly due to paint stains or torn-off car parts being analyzed.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
