Rhine in flames in Bonn 32-year-old still in critical condition
Bonn · After the final fireworks at the Rhine in Flames event, a man was caught by a train at the Ollenhauerstraße/Gronau railway station, and got seriously injured. The 32-year-old's condition remains critical. The operation had a considerable impact on rail traffic.
After the final fireworks at the Rhine in Flames event, a man was caught by a train at the Ollenhauerstraße/Gronau railway station, and got seriously injured. The 32-year-old's condition remains critical. The operation had a considerable impact on rail traffic. A 32-year-old had crossed the tracks at the Ollenhauerstraße / Gronau stop with his bicycle at around 0.15 am and had been caught by an incoming KVB railway line 16. The man didn’t notice the tram crossing despite a warning signal, the police reported on Sunday morning, according to information provided by witnesses.
The man was seriously injured in the accident and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance. First responders had taken care of the injured man until the rescue services were on site. According to the police, the condition of the injured person was still critical on Sunday morning. Several people witnessed the accident. One woman suffered a shock and had to be cared for on the spot by rescue workers. She was then brought home by friends. Since it was the first train after the fireworks from Rhein in Flammen to reach the station, the train was not fully occupied.
Significant disruption to rail traffic
Due to the accident, the railways of lines 16, 63 and 66 did not operate in this area until late at night. According to Stadtwerke Bonn, the lines had to be interrupted: Line 16/63 only went from Cologne or Tannenbusch to Heussalle and back. Due to the separation of the lines, rail traffic on line 66 was not possible in the Rheinaue/Robert-Schuman-Platz area. Nevertheless, several young men climbed over the barrier on the bridge, ran across the motorway and onto the track within a very short time.
All were directed directly to the platform. The SWB staff recommended waiting people to walk over the Rhine bridge to the Ramersdorf stop or to use a bus at the main entrance to the Rheinaue. Line 66 went from Siegburg to Bonn main station until late into the night, then back via Beuel-Ramersdorf from there Linienweg to Honnef and back. According to the Stadtwerke, no rail traffic was possible for hours in the Robert-Schuman-Platz and Rheinaue areas. For hours there were considerable irregularities on all railway lines.Soon, however, all passengers had reoriented themselves - most of them with a lot of understanding for the situation.
"We sent several buses to Ollenhauerstraße," reported Abdelkader Cadi of the Stadtwerke, at the Rheinaue main entrance stop. In addition, more buses drove from the main entrance of the Rheinaue directly to the main station. Road traffic was also affected. As a roadway was closed in both directions at the accident site on the B9, there were long traffic jams in this area. Around 4 am the Stadtwerke opened the road again. The police took over the investigation of the accident. Witnesses who observed the accident are asked to report to the police on 0228 15-0.
(Original text: Michael Wrobel and Ulrich Felsmann Translation: Mareike Graepel)
