Vehicle accident in Neukirchen: Driver survives fall in Dürnbach!

Vehicle accident in Neukirchen: Driver survives fall in Dürnbach!

On April 27, 2025, there was a serious traffic accident in Neukirchen am Großvenediger when a 37-year-old driver drove off the road while avoiding a wild animal. According to a report by Fireworld A wild animal crossed the road, which caused the driver to make a reflexive evasive movement to the right. As a result, her vehicle ended up on the shoulder of the road and collided head-on with a tree. The car fell over the embankment into the Dürnbach and ultimately came to rest on its passenger side.

After water entered the vehicle, the driver managed to escape through the driver's door and climb over the embankment back to the road. First aid was quickly provided by a local who happened to be driving by and a paramedic. The Neukirchen Volunteer Fire Department secured the vehicle and was able to recover it with the support of the Zell am See Volunteer Fire Department. The car was a total loss, while the driver was taken to Mittersill Hospital with injuries of an unspecified degree after emergency medical treatment. An alcohol test showed 0.00 mg/l.

The dangers of wildlife accidents

Wildlife accidents pose a serious risk to drivers, especially during the months of April and May. The General Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV) warns that the risk of wildlife accidents is higher during this time than at any other time of the year. Drivers should drive carefully and be prepared to brake, especially in forest areas and on the edges of fields, as wild animals are often looking for food in the morning hours and at dusk. With the time change, which shifts rush hour traffic to twilight, the risk of collision increases significantly.

An accident involving wildlife occurs every two minutes in Germany, with around 265,000 such accidents being registered in 2022. Every year, over a million wild animals die from these accidents, as the German Hunting Association reports. It is also important to note that many modern safety features such as emergency braking are not optimized for wildlife detection, which can lead to dangerous situations. Anticipatory driving and increased awareness of dangers are therefore strongly recommended.

Recommended behavior after a wildlife accident

Behavior after a wildlife accident is of the utmost importance. Drivers should definitely turn on their hazard lights, put on a safety vest and secure the scene of the accident. It is advisable to call the police and inform a hunter to obtain a game damage certificate. It is important not to touch injured animals and to pull dead animals safely to the edge. If possible, photos of the accident scene as well as the animal and the vehicle should be taken for documentation.
Damage caused by wildlife accidents is usually covered by partial or fully comprehensive insurance.

The tragedy in Neukirchen am Großvenediger impressively shows how quickly an accident with wild animals can happen and how important preventative behavior is in road traffic. Drivers should always pay attention to animal crossings and adapt their driving style accordingly to avoid accidents.