Man faces murder trial over fatal 2024 crash
Monday 2nd November 2026 on 11:01 in
Austria
A 24-year-old man will face trial on murder and attempted murder charges over a fatal car crash in Kirchschlag, in the Urfahr-Umgebung district, ORF reported. The hearing is scheduled for November 16 at Linz Regional Court.
The crash happened on the night of October 21, 2024, when the man’s car crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle at a speed of at least 85 km/h. The other car’s 58-year-old driver died, and his passenger was seriously injured. The accused was also injured.
The man was initially convicted of negligent homicide at Linz District Court. The case was reopened after he reportedly told staff during a stay at the Neuromed Campus psychiatric clinic that he had caused the crash deliberately and did not care that someone had died.
The Linz public prosecutor’s office has charged him with murder and attempted murder in connection with an attempted suicide. If convicted, he faces 10 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment. Prosecutors are also seeking his placement in a forensic therapeutic centre.