Drunk truck driver pulled off the road in Upper Austria – measured at 2.54 per mille

The man only came to attention later at a petrol station in Stadl-Paura, because his condition suggested the consumption of alcohol. The alerted emergency personnel carried out a breathalyzer test, which yielded a value of 2.54 per mille. For comparison: In Austria, the legal limit for truck drivers is 0.1 per mille – the measured value was therefore around 25 times above the permitted limit.

Came to attention at the petrol station in Stadl-Paura

The man was subsequently pulled off the road. The police announced that they would seize the suspect's driving licence and file charges for hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol. Addiction- and traffic-psychological assessments are common when drivers come to attention with values beyond 1.6 per mille, investigators explained to the APA.

Meanwhile, traffic experts warn that serious truck accidents under the influence of alcohol are particularly dangerous because a truck in a loaded state possesses a multiple of the kinetic energy of a passenger car. In such cases, fractions of a second are enough to endanger other road users with lethal consequences, a spokesperson for the Upper Austria Regional Police Directorate said.

Danger posed by heavy vehicles under the influence of alcohol

Lambach and Stadl-Paura lie a few kilometres apart in the district of Wels-Land. The Stift intersection is regarded by locals as a sensitive point because several state roads converge there and there is a high volume of traffic. Residents report that rear-end collisions occur repeatedly at the intersection because visibility is restricted by the historic buildings.

Only recently, the Interior Ministry had announced a nationwide focus campaign against alcohol and drugs in road traffic. Last year, almost 5,000 drivers were reported for driving under the influence of alcohol in Upper Austria according to the police – a slight increase compared to the pandemic year 2020. The district of Wels-Land with its neighbouring municipalities was particularly affected.

Investigations and reactions

The police in Upper Austria confirmed that the accused truck driver has since refused to make an initial statement during interrogation. His truck was seized and placed in a secured police impound lot. Further investigations, in particular regarding the exact cause of the accident and the question of additional victims, are ongoing according to the APA.

Residents and road users reacted with outrage. A spokesperson for the municipality of Lambach spoke of "irresponsible behaviour that puts human lives at risk" and called for increased checks at sensitive intersections. The KURIER also reported on the incident and referenced the ongoing investigations.