Bus driver prevents collision with van through emergency braking in Leonding – twelve injured

The abrupt braking injured a total of twelve passengers. The majority of the injuries are, according to initial findings, likely of a relatively minor nature. Some of those affected were taken to a hospital near Linz for further evaluation, including children. No conclusive information was initially available regarding the exact severity of the individual injuries.

Twelve injured, including children

The van that nearly collided with the bus was, according to the information provided, being driven by a 27-year-old. According to the current state of the investigation, the city bus is believed to have entered the intersection on a green light while the other vehicle was crossing through the intersection. The exact circumstances that led to the near-crash are now the subject of the investigations.

The Nußböckstraße/Hochstraße intersection had to be partially closed for the duration of the accident recording and recovery operations following the incident. Service on Line 191 was temporarily interrupted, with replacement services being arranged where possible. Emergency services and the fire department were deployed with multiple vehicles.

Investigations into the cause of the accident underway

The 65-year-old driver who triggered the emergency braking remained uninjured according to his own statements. The 27-year-old driver of the van was also, according to the current state of knowledge, not seriously injured. Both vehicles sustained only minor damage in the incident, with the city bus suffering no significant damage according to the emergency services.

Investigations into the exact cause of the accident are underway. Police are examining, among other things, whether the 27-year-old driver of the van ran a red light or otherwise misjudged the intersection. The question of whether technical problems with either vehicle played a role is also part of the investigations.

Local residents reported on Wednesday morning hearing a loud squeal of brakes and shortly afterward the sound of an emergency siren. The deployment was reported on social media, including in a live TV stream. The Line 191 city bus runs regularly between Leonding and adjacent districts and is also used by schoolchildren.

Consequences for the bus service

Police announced that they would reconstruct the exact sequence of events of the near-collision as well as the causes in the coming days. Witnesses who observed the incident are asked to contact the station. The city bus and the van were released again after the accident recording was completed.

The city of Leonding and the bus company did not initially comment in detail on the incident. In such cases, an internal review typically follows to determine whether the bus was running on schedule at the time of the incident and whether the on-board systems – such as an emergency braking assistant-like function – engaged.

Parents of the affected children were informed through the school or directly and were able to pick up their children at the scene. Teachers and emergency personnel looked after the young passengers until the pickup was organized. Several families were worried, but the well-being of their children was soon confirmed.