The defendant wanted to show off the 557 hp sports car and his driving skills to the young people – at least that’s what the public prosecutor is convinced of. The man is said to have raced through the city at least twice in Augsburg at speeds of up to 200 km/h; the speed limit was 50.
On August 26, 2022, the speeding trip ended with a devastating accident – the two and a half ton car crashed into a shopping cart stand in the busy parking lot of a large furniture store. The defendant’s 21-year-old passenger was dead and two other passengers were injured. In the parking lot, two customers were just able to run away from the approaching car.
The defendant confessed
At the beginning of the trial surrounding the fatal speeding accident in the Augsburg regional court, the 54-year-old defendant made an extensive confession on Wednesday. His defense attorney read out a statement in which the allegations in the indictment were admitted down to individual details. However, the accused car mechanic did not want to answer any further questions from the court.
The tragic journey began at a gas station known as a popular car tuner hangout. The defendant is said to have picked up his three passengers there. Then the journey began, which, according to the investigation, was hardly longer than 20 seconds, then the driver completely lost control of his heavy car. The defendant is said to have previously accelerated to maximum speed; the car was able to reach 100 km/h in less than five seconds.
There is a risk of up to ten years in prison
Ultimately, the speeder left the road, got onto a sidewalk and broke through the fence of the furniture store. The car flew across the slightly lower parking lot and crashed into the shopping cart box. Metal and wood splinters shot through the car and hit the 21-year-old in the passenger seat in the head; the young woman died immediately from severe skull injuries.
The two injured passengers in the back seat survived, as did the driver. “The fact that no other people were injured or killed as a result of the accused’s drive was a mere coincidence,” said the prosecutor, referring to the customers in the parking lot.
Some time before, the 54-year-old is said to have gone on a similar speeding trip with another passenger. The passenger became “panicked,” said the public prosecutor. He asked the defendant to slow down. He is said to have made fun of the frightened passenger.
