Teenager seriously injured: E-scooter accident at a railway crossing in Holzgerlingen

Teenager seriously injured: E-scooter accident at a railway crossing in Holzgerlingen

In the Böblingen district, more precisely in Holzgerlingen, there was a serious accident on June 23, 2025, in which an 18-year-old was hit by a train. The young woman wanted to cross a level crossing on the Schönbuchbahn line with an e-scooter when the accident happened. As a result of the collision, she was seriously injured and had to be transported to a hospital by rescue helicopter. The train route was temporarily completely closed while the railway involved in the accident was cleared.

At the scene of the accident, firefighters provided quick help by guiding around 30 passengers from the train to the outside. The local branch of the German Red Cross provided the evacuated passengers with drinks to ease their situation. The level crossing was equipped with a St. Andrew's cross with a red flashing light. However, it is still unclear whether the flashing light was active at the time of the accident. An expert hired by the public prosecutor's office will examine the relevant circumstances, as crossing traffic is obliged to wait when the flashing light is activated.

Safety at railway crossings

Accidents at level crossings are a serious problem. According to a study by the international railway association UIC published last year, 27 percent of all train accidents occur at such crossings. What is particularly worrying is that 98 percent of all fatal accidents occur at level crossings. Stefan Pöting, head of railway technology at TÜV NORD, emphasizes the importance of safety devices. While quiet trains are often recognized too late, many people underestimate the dangers of crossing railway crossings.

In this context, it is important to know that from a railway perspective, every third accident occurs at a level crossing, while from a road traffic perspective, less than every hundredth accident occurs at such a point. Pöting points out that the long braking distances of trains are crucial; A local train needs around 700 meters to come to a stop at a speed of 160 km/h. Technical safety devices such as barriers and warning lights are therefore much more effective than a simple St. Andrew's cross.

The frustration of long waiting times at closed gates often leads to risks being underestimated. Education about the dangers and the importance of safety at level crossings is essential. As Pöting aptly puts it, it is better to arrive at your destination late than never.