Death at the Christmas market: Investigations after a fatal driving business accident!

On December 18, 2024, a serious work accident occurred at the Christmas market in Berlin-Lichtenberg, in which a 20-year-old employee of a driving business was fatally injured. The young man was responsible for a swing ride and got into the swivel area of ​​the pendulum. He was hit on the back of the head and thrown onto the floor, which led to serious injuries.

The rescue workers were immediately alerted and the injured person was taken to the hospital at around 8:30 p.m. Despite intensive medical care, he died in the hospital on Sunday morning, December 22nd. The Berlin police then initiated investigations with negligent bodily harm with death. Initial investigations indicate a lack of safety precautions to the ride, since there was obviously no barrier between the work and the swivel area.

Investigations and other incidents

The State Office for Occupational Safety, Health and Technical Security Berlin was commissioned to check the driving business. In addition, the investigation is directed against the 46-year-old foreman of the driving business. This was not the only incident at the Christmas market this week. A technical defect on a ferris wheel appeared during a test ride on Monday. The locking mechanism of a gondola was affected, but fortunately there were no passengers in danger, and the trip was stopped until the repair.

As early as December 2019, there was a fatal accident on the same Christmas market, in which an employee of a driving business died. The recent incidents are again raising questions about security at the Christmas market in Berlin-Lichtenberg.