Four-year-old struck and injured on crosswalk in Vorarlberg by 17-year-old driver

Driver had held license for only one week

In doing so, he struck the four-year-old boy, who was crossing the crosswalk on his kick scooter. The collision threw the child and the kick scooter to the ground. The four-year-old was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

The boy was taken by ambulance to LKH Bregenz and sustained injuries of an undetermined degree. All other individuals involved were uninjured.

Police investigations ongoing

A breathalyzer test conducted on the 17-year-old driver came back negative. According to police, further investigations into the course of the accident are still underway.

The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at around 4:53 p.m. This falls within the early evening hours, when many families are regularly out and about on school routes and at crosswalks.

The authorities are now examining in particular the sequence of the overtaking maneuver as well as possible consequences for the young person who has only recently obtained a driver's license. Traffic offenses involving minors are handled separately under juvenile criminal law in Austria.

Witnesses sought

The accident on Lerchenauerstraße has reignited discussions in Vorarlberg about the visibility of crosswalks and about the probationary period for young drivers. Recently, similar incidents in the region had led to increased enforcement.

Police are asking any witnesses who observed the incident to contact their nearest station to assist with the ongoing investigation.