Terrible accident in Villach: 17-year-old injured after Aquaplaning

Terrible accident in Villach: 17-year-old injured after Aquaplaning

On March 29, 2025, a serious traffic accident occurred on Mühlbacher Strasse, in which a 17-year-old vehicle driver from the Villach district was affected. After initial investigations by the police, Aquaplaning was the cause of the accident when the young driver's vehicle got off the road and collided with a tree, such as the Gailtal Journal reported. The handlebar was able to free himself from the vehicle, but was then admitted to the Villach State Hospital with indefinite injuries.

An alkomat test showed that the driver was sober at the time of the accident. In order to secure the scene of the accident and recover the vehicle, the fire brigades from Rosegg, Dolintschach and St. Jakob/Ros were deployed. A total of 30 emergency services and six vehicles were involved. The police started the investigation into the exact course of the accident.

aquaplaning as the cause of the accident

aquaplaning is a considerable risk in road traffic, especially during extreme weather conditions that have increased in recent years. Climate researchers warn that climate change will further reinforce these events, which endangers traffic safety. In aquaplaning, a water wedge forms between the road and the tires, which means that the driver loses control of the vehicle. This often happens when large puddles form or in heavy rain when the road surface is flooded. Christian Koch, an expert at Dekra, explains that the water can be displaced by the tires on wet streets, but no longer when a thicker layer of water forms.

Bernd Mayländer, known as Safety car driver in Formula 1, describes his experiences with aquaplaning, in which the vehicle's steering mechanics are downplayed while the actual ground liability is lost. In such situations, electronic assistance systems such as ABS or ESP no longer help, which increases the dangers, such as Dekra explained.

The importance of traffic safety

In order to be safe on the street, regular vehicle inspections and the condition of the tires are of crucial importance. In wet conditions in particular, drivers should be careful and become aware of the risks of aquaplaning to avoid accidents. The increasing risk due to climate changes makes it necessary to better prepare for such situations and to consider defensive driving as the highest priority.

As the events of March 29 show clearly, a moment of carelessness can have considerable consequences. The police are currently working on clarifying the exact course of the accident, while the fire brigade and emergency services have taken the necessary measures to provide the young driver as soon as possible.