Tragic accident in Neudau: Woman dies after falling on a child's scooter

Tragic accident in Neudau: Woman dies after falling on a child's scooter

On Saturday evening, March 25, 2025, a tragic accident occurred in Neudau, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld district, in which a 65-year-old woman from Güssing was seriously injured. During a family walk, she tested one of her grandchildren's children's scooters on a sloping sidewalk and bike path and fell. The incident, which also involved her stepdaughter and two grandchildren, occurred around 7:15 p.m.

The path where the accident occurred was covered in grit, which may have contributed to the woman's serious injury. She suffered serious head injuries in the fall and was not wearing a helmet. After the fall, she lost consciousness, whereupon her stepdaughter immediately alerted the emergency services. They arrived quickly and an emergency doctor provided first aid.

Emergency care and hospitalization

The woman was then taken to the LKH Graz with the Christophorus 17 rescue helicopter. There she had to undergo several medical procedures but later succumbed to her serious injuries. The exact circumstances of the accident are now being investigated by the authorities.

Statistics show that wearing a helmet can make significant differences in the risk of injury in similar accidents. According to a study by HFC Human-Factors-Consult GmbH, wearing a helmet can prevent 20 to 80 percent of head injuries among cyclists. Given that the woman was not wearing a helmet, this accident once again brings the discussion about the safety of cyclists and scooters to the fore.

Road safety

Older cyclists in particular are dependent on safety precautions when cycling because, according to a BASt study, this group often suffers more serious injuries when they fall. It is noteworthy that more than half of all people killed in bicycle accidents are over 65 years old. In this age group, the proportion of e-bike users is as high as 72 percent. This means that wearing a helmet can not only save lives, but is also crucial for older people's road safety.

Although the helmet wearing rate of cyclists in Germany was around 32 percent in 2021, there are significant differences between age groups. While 78 percent of children between the ages of six and ten regularly wear a helmet, the figure is only 38 percent of young people. These statistics highlight the need to increase safety awareness and helmet use rates to reduce the overall risk of accidents.

In view of the tragic case of the 65-year-old woman from Güssing, the discussion about the importance of wearing a helmet for road safety is being reopened. Experts strongly recommend wearing protective helmets, especially when using scooters and bicycles, to minimize the risk of injury.

Further information and details about the accident can be found in the reports from Cosmo and Small newspaper. The discussion about road safety and the effectiveness of helmets remains very current and relevant.

To learn more about the protective properties of helmets, take a look at the information from I wear a helmet.