There are two things that repeat themselves in the case of Cindy Bohnwagner. The first is the intersection in Berlin in Prenzlauer Berg: Bohnwagner drives there when she is cycling to work. She works as a nurse and wanted to go to the Charité. Then the truck comes, runs her over, and she dies two weeks later as a result. She is not the only fatality at this intersection, not even this year. Another two people will die there in the course of 2021.
The second thing that repeats itself: André F, the driver behind the wheel of the truck, has run over a person before. He has only had his driver’s license since 2017, two years later he causes the first serious accident with his truck, a man has to be put into a coma with serious injuries.
Another two years later he runs over Cindy Bohnwagner, an avoidable accident: According to “Tagesspiegel” his truck is equipped with all kinds of digital helpers to support and warn him. An expert says: One look in the 360-degree camera or in the mirror and he should have seen Bohnwagner. André F. ignores the little helpers and he also ignores the StVO, which states: Vehicles with more than 3.5 tons may only turn at walking speed in built-up areas. When he catches Bohnwagner, his truck is traveling at around 22 kilometers per hour.
The penalty for causing the accident twice is low: Eight months on probation for negligent homicide, André F. also has to pay a fine of 1,000 euros to Kindernothilfe and can pay off the fine in monthly payments.
Nevertheless, he has lost his job: after the accident in 2019, he wanted to stop driving a truck, but then continued to drive at the request of his colleagues. After the second accident, he asked his boss for retraining.
Sources:stern.de (€), “Tagesspiegel (€)”