Three injured in electric shock at railway crossing in Allensbach!

Three injured in electric shock at railway crossing in Allensbach!

A dramatic scene took place on Tuesday afternoon in Allensbach on Lake Constance. An accident at a railway crossing has injured three people as they attempted to transport an inflatable catamaran sailboat with the mast up. The mast touched the railway's high-voltage overhead line and caused an electric shock. The incident does not remain without consequences; A 52-year-old man suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to hospital in a rescue helicopter. A 47-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man were also injured and also had to receive medical care. That reported swr.de.

Course of the accident and consequences

The unfortunate incident caused material damage of around 5,000 euros as the overhead line was torn off by the sail mast. As a result of the damage, train traffic between Radolfzell and Konstanz was restricted from Tuesday evening to Wednesday afternoon. At first the route was completely closed, but later it could only be used on a single track. This not only led to delays, but also to partial cancellations on the important RE2 line from Karlsruhe to Konstanz; the S6 even failed completely between Radolfzell and Konstanz.

In order to prevent this incident, the municipality of Allensbach pointed out the danger of overhead lines with signs at frequent crossings after a similar incident in 2021. At that time, a man suffered serious injuries when he came into contact with the overhead line on a sailing dinghy. Another incident in 2018 in Radolfzell, in which a man was also seriously injured, also raises questions.

Dangers from power lines

The dangers posed by overhead electrical lines should not be underestimated. According to Deutsche Bahn, traction current carries a voltage of 15,000 volts - 65 times that of a normal household socket. Electricity can jump from a distance of just 1.5 meters and can be potentially fatal. Numerous accidents occur every year, often resulting in serious injuries or even death. Children, young people and adults are particularly affected when they climb on wagons, electricity pylons or parked trains, warns Deutsche Bahn. We strongly warn against entering railway facilities or carrying out dangerous activities such as flying kites or model airplanes near tracks.

The question remains: How can such tragic events be prevented? Deutsche Bahn has launched various campaigns aimed at both education and prevention. To promote sustainable safety, they release posters and educational materials in schools and media campaigns. For example, a young woman who survived an electrocution decided to share her story to educate others about the dangers.

It becomes clear that it is not just a question of enlightenment. Those responsible are called upon to take measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. The ongoing aftermath of the accident in Allensbach is another example of how even everyday activities such as transporting a sailboat can pose potentially lethal risks.