What should be has to be! There are probably few situations in life where this saying, with all its urgency, really applies. However, if the bladder is squeezing – and this may have been for a certain period of time – then a toilet must be visited. As banal and everyday as this situation may seem, it was fatal for two senior citizens, because both of them went to the toilet – independently of one another and at different times – during a rest stop on their booked Flixbus trip. When they then wanted to get back in, their vehicle was already on the road again. Both were simply forgotten.
The first case occurred at the end of June this year on a tour from Dresden to Munich, as reported by the “Freie Presse”. An 85-year-old woman went to the toilet during a break in the “Neukirchener Wald” car park on Autobahn 72. When she came back, the bus had already moved on. All she could do was call the police and wait for help.
In the second case, a senior citizen was on her way from Nuremberg to Heidelberg. During the journey, the bus drove to the “Wolpertshausen” service area for a “pee and smoking break”, as reported by the “Bild” newspaper. She also went to the toilet first: “After three minutes I go back to the bus. But I can only see the rear of the bus as it drives away.” The elderly woman ran after it, called and waved. But in vain. The vehicle had been up and away.
In this case, Flixbus initially saw no fault in itself. The “Bild” newspaper quotes the company as saying: “Long-distance buses, like long-distance trains, are a scheduled regular service. This means that passengers who stop are responsible for getting back on the bus on time to continue their journey.” However, after checking again, it should be noted that the driver had not taken the break time, so the pensioner was at least reimbursed for the fare.
The lady from the “Neukirchener Wald” car park went much faster. The officers who were summoned put her in the car and followed the bus with the lights flashing. Finally, according to “Freie Presse”, this was caught up and the elderly woman was able to continue her journey.
Sources: “Freie Presse” (payment barrier), “Bild” newspaper
