Convertible driver sentenced to 12,000 euros after accident with 13-year-old!

Convertible driver sentenced to 12,000 euros after accident with 13-year-old!

A serious incident on the island of Rügen now has legal repercussions: A 47-year-old convertible driver was sentenced to a fine of 12,000 euros by the Stralsund district court in Bergen after he was charged with serious bodily harm. The accident occurred on the evening of August 14, 2024, when a 13-year-old student was traveling with his classmates in Prora. The public prosecutor's office had demanded a strict sentence, which included a two-year suspended sentence, 8,000 euros in compensation and a three-year ban on a new driving license.

After the incident, there was nationwide excitement and numerous discussions about the responsibility of road users. Loud NDR Witnesses reported that the young man had previously danced in the street and made a provocative gesture to the driver, which played a role in the verdict. The defendant, on the other hand, emphatically rejected the allegations and argued that the boy suddenly got into the street so that he had no opportunity to get out of the way. He stated that he had no reason for intentional behavior and merely rolled his vehicle over because he had forgotten something.

Serious allegations and hit-and-run

The boy suffered a traumatic brain injury in the collision and had to be flown to hospital by rescue helicopter. However, he was briefly able to get up and run away after the accident. The investigators accuse the defendant of causing grievous bodily harm, hit-and-run and dangerous interference with road traffic. From the statements of the student's classmates, who acted as witnesses, it is clear that the driver specifically directed the car at the boy.
Northern Courierreports that although the expert determined that the collision was at a speed of at least 25 km/h, he was unable to prove that the collision was intentional.

Regardless of this specific case, road safety is an important issue in Germany. Questions are raised about hit-and-runs and other traffic offenses KBA increasingly relevant. In 2024, statistics recorded around 32,850 recorded cases of hit-and-run, suggesting that behavior like the 47-year-old's is not an isolated incident. At a time when road safety is at the forefront, what happened on Rügen is a worrying example of the potential danger on our roads.

Whether the driver intended to injure the student remains a moot point. While the defendant continues to protest that he is innocent, the witness statements shed a different light on the situation. The case will certainly stimulate heated discussions about the responsible use of cars and the associated dangers in the future.