According to Klaus Stebal from the Lower Austria regional command, one of the helpers who responded was killed in the accident.
Another occupant suffered serious injuries and was transported away by emergency helicopter. Three men who were also in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
Overturned in a curve
The fire truck was probably on its way to a traffic accident and overturned on a curve. It ended up in the ditch. According to Stebal, no other vehicles were involved.
Two of the occupants – the person who later died and the seriously injured person – ended up lying under the vehicle. According to Stebal, the fire truck involved in the accident was a relief vehicle 2 (HLF 2), which is specially equipped for forest fires.
The exact identities of the dead man and the four injured men were initially unclear. There was also no information on the total number of inmates in HLF 2. A crisis intervention team was ordered to the St. Pölten district to look after the helpers on site. In the evening hours, the heavily damaged fire engine was transported away using a low loader.
“Compassion goes out to the relatives”
Lower Austria’s governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner also responded to the fatal accident during an emergency trip on Friday evening. “Our sympathy goes out to the family, relatives and comrades in these difficult hours,” said the ÖVP politician via Facebook.
