A Dutch woman (28) died in an accident and seven skiers were injured within half an hour! After a horror day in early 2023, the head of a Tyrolean ski resort and two employees were now on trial in Innsbruck for murder by gross negligence.
“It was a black day for the Zillertaler Gletscherbahn,” complained the lawyer for the three defendants. According to the indictment, his clients – the director (68) and two snow plow drivers (34, 24) – failed to close or give instructions on the extremely icy valley run “Schwarze Pfanne” in Hintertux on New Year’s Day 2023. So.
“During a check ride with the Ski-Doo, I noticed that the red slope was very slippery despite the mild temperatures. “We then discussed whether we should close it, but that was not clear,” explains one of the two track operators. The operations manager was told to have someone look at the steep part, but by then it was too late.
Usually only closed when there is a lot of fresh snow
“Total closures are very rare,” the director said. And only with “large amounts of fresh snow”. He still remembered the memorable day of the accident: “The day and night were exceptionally mild.” However, he himself was not aware of the special conditions on the slopes that day. “Employees can immediately close the slopes if there is imminent danger,” he emphasized. However, there are no written instructions on the appropriate official channels. The inspection runs were also carried out neatly and the steep section was well secured.
A total of 17 witnesses – some of whom were seriously injured during the descent, but many of whom reached their destination safely despite driving problems – then described extensively and sometimes graphically the condition of the steep section of the valley descent on which the fatal accident occurred. . “It was pure ice,” said the partner of the girlfriend of the 28-year-old woman who died in the accident.
Some holidaymakers travel with poor equipment
However, the slope has clearly changed in a very short time. “It is almost impossible that the employees noticed this ‘metamorphosis of the snow cover’,” said the lawyer. Some ski holidaymakers, some inexperienced, also traveled with boards that were in extremely poor condition, according to an expert.
“Absolutely exceptional situation”
Judge Norbert Hofer stated in his judgment that lasted more than half an hour that it could not be assumed that the employees had violated their due care, but that they had to assume an “extraordinary winter with little snow and difficult weather conditions”. In fact, the slope only started to freeze in the morning before the opening of the ski slopes, so additional and even more precise control runs did not change the situation. “All in all, it was an absolutely exceptional situation,” said Hofer, who argued, among other things, that the safety measures on the steep section, such as the safety net there, were sufficient at the time of the accident. Ultimately, there were three acquittals due to doubt.
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.
