Fatal carriage accident in the Engadin: One dead and twelve injured after returning from the Roseg Valley

Background of the Trip

The injured were distributed to various hospitals, as the police further reported. The Graubünden cantonal police initially provided no further details on the health condition of the injured or the identity of the deceased. The rescue forces were deployed in large numbers after the accident.

The recovery and securing work at the accident site lasted several hours according to police reports. The road between Pontresina and the Val Roseg was temporarily impassable according to the authorities. The accident site is located on the edge of the Swiss National Park, a region popular with hikers and day-trippers.

Deployment of Rescue Forces

The Graubünden cantonal police announced that they would investigate the course of the accident together with the public prosecutor's office. There were initially no indications of external fault or technical defects in the carriages. The police asked any possible witnesses to come forward.

Horse-drawn carriage rides into the Val Roseg and neighboring valleys are a common tourist offering in the Engadin. The routes partly lead over unpaved mountain paths that are considered safe in favorable weather. Following the accident, the question arises as to which safety standards apply to such tours and whether they need to be adapted to current conditions.

Safety Questions for Carriage Tours

The incident throws a spotlight on the risks of tourist carriage rides in the high mountains. Even if such rides are perceived as rather leisurely excursions, they carry dangers due to the rough terrain, the behavior of the draft horses, and weather influences. In the specific case, investigators must now clarify which factors came together.

The region around Piz Roseg and the Roseg Valley is among the most visited excursion destinations in the Upper Engadin. Pontresina, the starting point of the carriage ride, is a well-known holiday resort in the Canton of Graubünden. The news of the accident caused dismay in the region and among tourism officials.

Jürgen Rüegg of the Graubünden cantonal police is, according to the current state of affairs, one of the police spokespersons involved in the case. The authorities initially held back on providing further information on the cause of the accident. The investigations are ongoing.