Six people were injured—some seriously—on Wednesday when a police car and an ambulance collided in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district. A 27-year-old police officer sustained serious injuries, while his 25-year-old colleague was slightly injured, said police spokesperson Markus Dittrich. The 21-year-old ambulance driver and her 23-year-old passenger also suffered serious injuries. A 35-year-old patient being transported in the ambulance and her 56-year-old companion were lightly injured.
Vienna’s professional rescue service transported the three seriously injured individuals to a trauma room at a nearby hospital following initial treatment at the scene. The most severe injuries were sustained by the 21-year-old Red Cross employee. In general, those involved suffered bruises, abrasions, some head injuries, and symptoms of traumatic shock, according to emergency services. The patient in the ambulance, reportedly pregnant, was on her way to the hospital for unrelated reasons.
The accident occurred at the intersection of Obere and Untere Augartenstraße. “According to the current state of investigation, the police vehicle, responding to an emergency, was driving on Obere Augartenstraße coming from Gaußplatz toward Taborstraße,” said Dittrich. “At the same time, an ambulance—also using its emergency lights—was driving along Untere Augartenstraße from the Augarten Bridge and attempted to make a left turn into Obere Augartenstraße. The collision occurred in the intersection.”
Police Seek Witnesses
As of Wednesday afternoon, investigators were still working to determine the cause of the crash. “The Vienna Traffic Accident Command is conducting the on-site investigation,” Dittrich stated. No direct eyewitnesses were found at the scene. “However, several media reports suggest that there may be individuals who witnessed the accident,” the spokesperson said. Anyone who can provide information about the incident or who saw it occur is asked to contact the Brigittenau Police Department at +43 1 31310-63250 or report to any police station.
