Alcoholized drivers sinked car in the Villgratenbach - police pursued!

Alcoholized drivers sinked car in the Villgratenbach - police pursued!

on Thursday evening, June 6, 2025, occurred in the Villgratental, more precisely on the L 273 Villgratentalstraße in the municipality of Innervillgraten, a dangerous incident that attracted the attention of the police. The Lienz police inspection carried out routine traffic controls when a 24-year-old driver disregarded and accelerated a stop. After a short time the police lost visual contact with the vehicle.

The driver, presumably due to excessive speed, lost control of his vehicle. This caused the car to get onto the road bank, three guiding blocks and a traffic sign touched before it fell in Villgratenbach in the floods. Fortunately, the driver was able to free himself from the vehicle, but left the scene of the accident and made his way to his parental apartment.

rescue chain and rescue measures

The police immediately initiated a rescue chain. The driver was finally found near his parental apartment. In the accident, he suffered a hypothermia. For observation, he was brought to the BKH Lienz. An alkomatt test carried out showed that it was significantly alcoholic, which indicates the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The competent authority was informed and will take legal action against the driver.

alcohol at the wheel - a growing problem

alcoholization at the wheel is a serious problem that occurs particularly frequently in summer. According to the [KFV] (https://www.kfv.at/so-gefaehrlich-ist-al alcohol-am-steuer/), alcohol consumption increases in the warm months, and this also has an impact on accident statistics. In the first quarter of 2022, Austria has experienced the highest proportion of alcohol accidents in the past 30 years. Overall, 8.5% of all accidents with personal damage due to alcohol.

In 2022 there were a total of 469 alcohol accidents, which resulted in 643 injuries and 7 deaths. This makes it clear that alcohol at the wheel is a significant danger for all road users. Almost a quarter of all alcohol accidents happen in particular in July and August.

KFV experts urgently warn of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol and appeal to the personal responsibility of the road users. It is advised to plan suitable home paths before consuming alcohol, be it through rides or through the use of public transport.

This incident from Inner Villgraten shows once again how quickly a risky situation can become serious consequences. The investigation is underway and the public is informed about further developments.