The vehicle, weighing dozens of tons, fell from a bridge on the Tauern Autobahn (A10) shortly following the Oswaldiberg tunnel and the truck crane began to burn. Emergency services from several fire departments managed to rescue the man under the most adverse circumstances, but he died a short time later, the Villach main fire station said.
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Image: UNKNOWN (BFKDO-VILLACH STADT)
The crane vehicle was traveling in the direction of Salzburg around 4 a.m. when the accident occurred for reasons that were initially unknown. The heavy vehicle fell around 30 meters. An “extremely difficult” operation followed for the eight fire departments that were alerted, said Harald Geissler from the Villach main fire station in an interview with the APA: “The mobile crane was on a steep embankment, it was pitch black and the rear part of the vehicle was on fire.” The first thing to be determined was whether the crane might fall or slip further – but the force of the impact stuck it firmly in the ground.
