Fatal accident in Olching: Was it a premeditated murder?

Fatal accident in Olching: Was it a premeditated murder?

A tragic incident occurred last week in Olching, Fürstenfeldbruck district. In a collision between a car and a pedestrian, the 57-year-old pedestrian was killed, despite immediate resuscitation efforts. Initially the incident was classified as a traffic accident, but the subsequent investigations led to serious suspicions: It could have been an intentional act, as [Augsburger Allgemeine](https://www.augsburger- Allgemeine.de/bayern/landkreis-fuerstenfeldbruck-toedlicher-unfall-bei-olching-war-es-denken-autofahrer-in-haft-17-07-110443572) reports.

The driver, a 33-year-old Croatian citizen from the Dachau district, was traveling on a sidewalk and cycle path on July 10th when he first drove around a barrier post and then hit the pedestrian head-on. An alcohol test on the driver revealed no abnormalities, but his driver's license was confiscated. After the first police check, he was initially released, but soon had to answer again because of his unusual behavior.

Psychological state of emergency

The next day, while staying at a hotel in Geiselbullach, the driver caused a stir by improperly setting off the fire alarm and behaving verbally aggressively towards a hotel employee. He refused to leave the building. According to the investigators, the driver was in an exceptional psychological state. The Munich II public prosecutor's office then confirmed the suspicion that the driver could have intentionally driven towards the pedestrian and requested that he be brought before a judge. He ordered him to be placed in a psychiatric clinic, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung reports.

The investigations by the Fürstenfeldbruck Criminal Investigation Department are still ongoing. The officials hope to find further witnesses, especially for the incident in the hotel, and are asking for information on 08141 / 6120.

Psychological consequences of traffic accidents

The tragedy in Olching also sheds light on the psychological consequences of traffic accidents. In order to better record and support affected people, the German Road Safety Council (DVR) calls for research projects that examine the dimensions of these consequences. Around 25 percent of seriously injured and affected people suffer from psychological impairments, which can potentially lead to long-term illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Particularly at risk are people who feel helpless or are already psychologically stressed, as described on the [DVR] website (https://www.dvr.de/politik/beschluesse/psychische-laufen-von-verkehrsunfaellen).

The story of the pedestrian and driver in Olching is therefore not only a tragic example of what can happen on our roads, but also an indication of the need to take the psychological stress that results from such incidents seriously. Early access to professional help could help reduce the psychological consequences for those affected.