Convertible accident on Rügen: Shocking details about the trial against the driver

Convertible accident on Rügen: Shocking details about the trial against the driver

A tragedy occurred in the summer of 2024 on the picturesque Baltic Sea island of Rügen, when a 47-year-old convertible driver in Prora seriously injured a 13-year-old student from Bremen who was on a school trip to the island. The trial against the defendant began on June 13, 2025, and the allegations are serious: dangerous interference with road traffic, dangerous bodily harm and hit-and-run are in the room. The lay judges' court in Bergen auf Rügen must clarify what exactly happened on that evening of August 14, 2024. According to Nordkurier, two trial days have been scheduled to shed light on the matter.

The public prosecutor's office describes that the accident happened around 9:10 p.m. at the junction with Fifth Street. The group of students, consisting of boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 14, was on the way to a supermarket when the student showed the driver of the convertible the middle finger, which led to the defendant's provocative reaction: he turned his vehicle around and collided head-on with the boy. Despite a kamikaze attempt to escape from the vehicle, the student suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. After the collision, he was flown by helicopter to the Greifswald University Hospital and has been in poor health ever since.

The trial and the allegations

The accused driver has five children and said in court that he did not want to harm anyone. He described the incident as a “catastrophe” but remained silent about the allegations. The trial not only brings the defendant to the front, but also numerous witnesses: classmates of the injured party, residents of the accident site and the defendant's son gave their statements. The focus is on the different perspectives of what is happening. According to NDR, some witnesses report that the driver initially offered help after the collision before fleeing.

The role of the vehicle itself remains exciting. Weeks after the accident, the police found the convertible hidden in a garage on September 5, 2024. The accused driver emphasizes that the car was parked there on the advice of a lawyer. However, the condition of the vehicle was worrying, with significant damage to the windscreen.

A process with many questions

How will the situation develop further? The court will also hear the testimony of an accident expert in order to accurately understand and evaluate the circumstances of what happened. While the pleas and verdict are still pending, the trial will continue on Monday. The accident highlights the need for road safety and the enforcement of traffic education, especially when it comes to young people.

The current traffic accident statistics demonstrate the need for preventive measures in this area. Destatis shows that accidents with personal injuries and their causes are recorded in order to enable targeted improvements in transport policy. In this case, it remains to be seen what lessons will be learned from these tragic events.