Woman from Graz rammed

Styrian wanted to cover up his son’s drunk driving accident

The two occupants of the second Jaguar were slightly injured.

(Bild: Stadtfeuerwehr Weiz)

After his son crashed his powerful car while drunk in eastern Styria, the 21-year-old's father wanted to cover up the incident and pretended to be the driver. An ineffectual attempt. The police quickly tracked the duo down. Now they are facing several charges.

Shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday, Sunday, the 21-year-old owner of a probationary driving license from the district of Weiz was driving his father's car accompanied by a passenger (22). In Göttelsberg in the municipality of Mortantsch, he turned onto Katerlochweg (municipal road) from a side road and probably overlooked a 23-year-old female driver from Graz coming from the left.

This resulted in a collision with the young woman's electric vehicle (Jaguar). The 23-year-old and her passenger of the same age were slightly injured. The Red Cross provided first aid for the two before they were taken to Weiz Regional Hospital for examination. The e-call system of the electric premium vehicle had previously automatically made an emergency call.

Son fled in his father's second car
While the Weiz municipal fire department were already clearing up the scene and police officers from Weiz were recording the traffic accident, the SUV owner and father of the 21-year-old suddenly claimed to be the driver of the accident. In the meantime, his son had fled the scene of the accident in his father's second car.

21 firefighters from the Weiz municipal fire department were deployed.

(Bild: Stadtfeuerwehr Weiz)

The firefighters had a lot to do after the accident.

(Bild: Stadtfeuerwehr Weiz)

 However, witnesses quickly drew the officers' attention to inconsistencies and told them about the two young boys from the car involved in the accident who had now disappeared. The 61-year-old, however, vehemently stuck to his less than credible version that he had caused the accident. Nevertheless, the police launched a manhunt for the Styrian's second car. 

Trio in wanted car tracked down
After hours of searching, a police patrol finally came across the wanted car in the area of the B64 in Passail at around 6 pm. However, the driver ignored the uniformed officers and turned around. The police officers followed the vehicle to the parking lot of an inn. During the check, police officers then discovered the 61-year-old father in the car together with his son (21), who had fled the scene, and his passenger (22). The 21-year-old's mother had brought them all back together.

A breathalyzer test revealed that the 21-year-old was slightly intoxicated. When questioned about the incident, the owner of the probationary driver's license stated with little credibility that he had only consumed beer after the accident. However, further investigations quickly cast doubt on this story.

Barrage of charges looming
Those involved are now facing several charges, including suspected hit-and-run and driving under the influence of alcohol. The local district authority will decide on the punishment. The 21-year-old will also be reported to the public prosecutor's office in Graz on suspicion of negligent bodily harm in road traffic and stabbing an injured person.