Tragedy in Neuwiederitzsch: 7 dead in school bus accident 1983!

Tragedy in Neuwiederitzsch: 7 dead in school bus accident 1983!

Neuwiederitzsch, Deutschland - On April 23, 1983, one of the worst railway hungry gap in GDR history occurred near Leipzig. A regular bus that had left in Seehausen a short time earlier collided with a locomotive, which led to a tragedy that not only shaken the immediate victim but also the community. Especially at 4:15 p.m., the disaster happened when apparently human failure and technical defects led to a devastating misfortune.

The bus, dangers of Dieter Butstädt, a four -fold family man, pointed out an unexpected waiting period at the level crossing because a express train passed the route. After passing the train, the barriers were opened, but the signal box manager, Hans Jürgen N., had overlooked the approaching locomotive. At a speed of 60 km/h there was a collision that tore the bus into two parts; The front part was dragged 150 meters. In this tragic incident, seven people lost their lives, the bus driver survived seriously.

savior and recovery

The first helper at the scene of the accident was Gerd Queisser, a paramedic who was able to save a baby out of the wreck under the most difficult conditions. Several other injuries could only be painstakingly recovered because the existing equipment was insufficient. In the meantime, Ilse Buttstädt, the bus driver's wife, was waiting for her husband's return and received the shocking message about the accident shortly afterwards.

The tragedy also attracted the attention of the Stasi, which started immediately with the investigation of the incident. It was determined that demands for an automatic barrier had previously been rejected at the level crossing. The signal box manager, who was held responsible for the accident, was arrested and received a prison sentence of three years.

follow and teach

An important result of the tragic events was the introduction of technical innovations, including a signal -dependent barrier, which was only installed after the accident - and therefore too late for the victims. According to SPIEGEL, the cause of the accident is often an interplay of human failure and outdated security measures. Despite the progress in technology, the need for extensive training and constant reviews of the accident prevention measures remains essential.

The tragedy of Neuwiederitzsch remains a memorial for traffic safety and the need to never repeat previous errors in security technology. The memories of the seven lost life are a steady picture for the urgency of improved security standards at level crossings.