Tragic Accident: Minibus Plunges Off Slope Near Schladming, One Fatality

A devastating accident occurred near Schladming in the district of Liezen when a fully occupied minibus veered off the road and fell down a slope late Saturday night. Authorities reported that a 31-year-old man from Upper Austria tragically lost his life in the incident, while two other passengers, aged 27 and 44, sustained serious injuries.

According to the regional police headquarters in Styria, the minibus, driven by an 18-year-old woman, was descending from Pichl bei Schladming when it left a steep mountain road. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. The 31-year-old victim from the Steyr-Land district did not survive the fall, which involved a drop of approximately 40 meters and multiple rollovers.

The severely injured individuals, a 44-year-old woman from the Liezen district and a 27-year-old male German national, were airlifted to hospitals in Salzburg by emergency helicopters "Christophorus 14" and "Christophorus 17." Additionally, six other passengers, aged between 18 and 35, were transported to surrounding hospitals, with five of them requiring inpatient care.

The accident prompted a large-scale emergency response, involving multiple fire departments, including those from Mandling and Schladming, as well as several ambulances from the Red Cross and a crisis intervention team. Emergency responders worked tirelessly for hours at the scene to assist the victims and manage the aftermath of the crash.

Authorities confirmed that an alcohol test conducted on the young female driver returned negative results. The police department in Schladming continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.