15-year-old dies in tragic car accident in Traun – two injured!

15-year-old dies in tragic car accident in Traun – two injured!

On the night of April 17, 2025, a fatal traffic accident occurred in Traun in which a 15-year-old Russian citizen from Linz lost his life. The teenager was driving a car in which there was also a 17-year-old from the Wels-Land district and a 19-year-old Russian citizen from the Linz-Land district. The accident happened around 8:50 p.m. when the 15-year-old overtook another vehicle on the Vienna main road towards Linz and lost control of his car. The vehicle entered a ditch on the right, took off and collided with a steel advertising sign before landing on its roof in the ditch.

After the emergency services were alerted, a police patrol along with first responders provided first aid. The two older occupants were freed from the crashed car in time. However, the 15-year-old was trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by the fire department. Despite immediate attempts at resuscitation, he died at the scene of the accident. The 17-year-old and the 19-year-old were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The relatives of the deceased young person received support from a crisis intervention team.

Causes of accidents for young drivers

The tragic incident sheds light on the risks young drivers face on the road. A study by [ADAC](https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/unfall- Schaden-panne/unfall/unfallforschung-junge-fahrer/) analyzed over 18,000 accident data and shows that drivers aged 18 to 24 cause twice as many accidents as older road users. Excessive speed and insufficient driving experience are among the most common causes of accidents. In addition, young drivers are at increased risk, particularly due to the higher proportion of solo accidents.

In addition, an analysis by Verkehrswacht shows that many of the most serious accidents occur on weekends, especially in the late evening hours. A total of 50,210 people among 18 to 24-year-olds had accidents in 2020, including 326 fatal cases. The number of accidents increases with motorization and has a clear connection to the age and driving experience of young people.

Particular risk factors

The data also shows that many young drivers are driving older vehicles, which can compromise their safety. Almost 49 percent of young drivers involved in vehicle accidents are 11 years old or older. This age group has a higher risk of not wearing a seatbelt, which leads to more serious injuries in accidents. In addition, 76 percent of accidents occur on country and federal highways, where speeds are higher and the risk of serious injuries also increases.

The April 17 accident is another tragic case that highlights the dangers of driving at a young age. It is an urgent call for everyone involved to do more to ensure the safety of young drivers and raise awareness of the risks.