A 41-year-old mother and her four-year-old son were killed on Saturday in an accident caused by an 83-year-old driver near Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin. According to initial findings, the man tried to drive past cars waiting in front of a red light in a traffic violation on the right in a bicycle lane and hit the two pedestrians, the police said on Sunday. According to witness statements, he was traveling at excessive speed.
According to officials, the mother and child were crossing the street when they were rammed by the 83-year-old’s car. They were tourists from Belgium. The child’s father and mother’s partner had to watch what happened, as did the deceased’s sister.
After the collision with the two pedestrians, the senior’s car crashed into a car waiting at the traffic lights, which in turn was pushed into a third vehicle. The 83-year-old was slightly injured and was taken to hospital for outpatient treatment. Police confiscated his driver’s license and the accident car for further investigations.
According to the police, three other people were also taken to hospitals for treatment. Because the accident occurred in a very busy area, many passers-by also witnessed everything. “They were clearly under the impression of what was happening,” the officials said. People were looked after on site by pastors and rescue workers.
“The investigation into the exact cause of the accident is ongoing,” the police said. The alleged perpetrator voluntarily took a breath alcohol test, but it showed a value of 0.0 per mille. An expert should therefore, among other things, examine the confiscated car.
According to the police and fire department, mother and child had to be resuscitated after the accident. They were then taken to clinics for further treatment, but they could no longer be helped. The mother died on Saturday. The child underwent emergency surgery but also later died.
