Operation on the Präbichl

Kindergarten children injured in accident with skidoo

The emergency helicopter was also on site at the Präbichl on Friday morning.

(Bild: FF Vordernberg)

Seven kindergarten children were injured in an accident involving a snowmobile on Präbichl on Friday. The vehicle crashed into a stair railing in the Upper Styrian ski resort and overturned. The 31-year-old driver was also injured.

The two trailers of the skidoos were carrying children aged between four and six, mainly from Graz and the surrounding area, and their ski instructors. The driver wanted to take the 14 ski school children from the bus parking lot to the so-called "Kinderland" on Friday morning. The accident occurred shortly before 10 a.m.: the vehicle crashed into a stair railing at the ski arena for as yet unexplained reasons, as the regional police department confirmed to the "Krone" newspaper.

Seriously injured child flown to Graz by helicopter
One boy (5) was seriously injured: he suffered cuts to his upper arm and a finger and was taken to Graz Regional Hospital by rescue helicopter. Six other children were treated for minor injuries at Leoben and Kalwang hospitals.

The driver of the snowmobile, a 31-year-old from the district of Leoben, suffered bruises on his back. All of the children were wearing helmets at the time of the accident, according to the police.

In addition to the helicopter crew, two emergency doctors and twelve paramedics with four rescue vehicles as well as the Vordernberg volunteer fire department were on site. As emphasized by the Alpfox ski school, all the injured children were accompanied by their parents on the way to hospital - they wanted to watch their little ones on the final day.

Investigations are now underway on suspicion of negligent bodily harm - however, the driver of the skidoos was not under the influence of alcohol according to a test.