On Friday morning, August 15, a routine traffic check in Šternberk, Czech Republic turned into a dangerous chase. The driver of a Skoda did not respect the order to stop, accelerated sharply and, after less than a kilometer, entered a railway crossing on Pískoviště Street directly in front of a passing passenger train. The impact tore the front of the vehicle, but both men in the car survived the collision.
The injured 31-year-old driver and his passenger, who is a year younger, were taken to hospital. According to the police, the driver was banned from driving motor vehicles and tested positive for drugs after the accident. According to investigators, the passenger was serving a sentence at the time. The passengers on the train were not injured. The driver is suspected of, among other things, endangerment under the influence of an addictive substance, obstructing the execution of an official decision and causing serious bodily harm through negligence. For these acts, he faces several years in prison. Rail traffic was temporarily restricted after the accident, and the crossing and surrounding area were secured by the integrated rescue system.