Two sisters injured in tractor accident on Metnitztal Straße

Injuries and hospital treatment

The Metnitztal Straße connects the Friesach district with the Metnitztal and runs, among other places, through the municipality of St. Salvator. According to the current state of the investigation, the exact accident site is on the L62. Traffic on the road was affected in the area of the accident site until the vehicle could be recovered.

Police investigations

The police have launched an investigation into the exact sequence of events. The focus is on the question of why the tractor left the road. There were no indications as of the evening of any third-party fault or of a technical defect in the vehicle.

The incident is part of a series of tractor accidents on Carinthia's rural roads, in which sometimes serious injuries have repeatedly been reported in recent months. Authorities had only recently pointed to the risks posed by young drivers of agricultural vehicles.

Minors may only drive agricultural vehicles on public roads under clearly defined conditions. The legal regulations provide, among other things, for age limits, accompanied driving, and appropriate training. Violations of these requirements can result in administrative penalties.

Legal framework for young tractor drivers

The police investigation is ongoing. Should it turn out that the 16-year-old did not have the required authorization, or that other circumstances contributed to the accident, further legal steps could follow. The question of a possible breach of supervision duties by those entitled to exercise parental authority is also routinely examined in such cases.

Parents and agricultural operations are equally called upon to carefully review the deployment of young people on tractors. Seat belts, driver cabs, and the experience of the young drivers play a significant role. Experts emphasize that many tractor accidents are attributable to uneven shoulders or inappropriate speed.

Emergency services and recovery

The Red Cross and the fire department were deployed after the accident to care for the injured and recover the crashed vehicle. The section of road was alternately closed in both directions during the recovery work. Once the cleanup was completed, the Metnitztal Straße was reopened.