Two 14-year-old girls were struck by a car while crossing Buckower Damm in Berlin’s Neukölln district on Friday evening, resulting in the death of one and serious injuries to the other.
The accident occurred around 8:45 p.m. Near the intersection with Gutschmidtstraße, according to police accounts cited in both reports.
The girls were riding together on a single electric scooter when they entered the roadway against a red traffic signal, as stated by investigators at the scene.
A 42-year-old man driving a Seat Leon was unable to stop in time and collided with the scooter, throwing both teenagers into the air before they landed on the asphalt.
Emergency responders arrived quickly, with twelve firefighters deployed to assist, and witnesses called for assist immediately after the impact.
One girl died en route to the hospital in Berlin-Neukölln, while the other remains in intensive care with severe head trauma, though officials say she is no longer in immediate danger of dying.
Long-term neurological consequences for the surviving girl cannot yet be determined, medical sources indicate, pending further evaluation.
Police suspected alcohol impairment and ordered blood testing
Officers at the scene reported smelling alcohol on the driver’s breath and observing signs of intoxication, leading them to request a blood draw under suspicion of driving under the influence.
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The driver was released pending investigation, with formal proceedings now being handled by the district’s specialized traffic accident unit.
Legal and safety questions emerge from conflicting accounts
While both sources confirm the girls crossed on red, neither specifies whether the scooter was being operated legally, as German law prohibits riders under 14 from using e-scooters without supervision and bans passengers entirely.
The absence of helmets — not mentioned in either report — raises further concern, given that head injuries were the primary cause of critical condition in the surviving victim.
Investigation focuses on driver behavior and road conditions
Investigators are examining whether excessive speed, distraction, or impaired judgment contributed to the driver’s failure to brake, alongside the teenagers’ decision to cross against the signal.
Traffic camera footage from nearby intersections is being reviewed to reconstruct vehicle speed and scooter movement in the seconds before impact.
<!– wp:heading>What penalties could the driver face if intoxication is confirmed?
/wp:heading –> <!– wp:paragraph>If blood tests show a blood alcohol level above 0.5‰, the driver faces fines, license suspension, and potential criminal charges for negligent homicide under Section 252 of the German Penal Code.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:heading>Are e-scooter passengers allowed under German law?
/wp:heading –> <!– wp:paragraph>No, German traffic regulations (StVO) prohibit carrying passengers on electric scooters regardless of age, and riders under 14 must be supervised by an adult when using such devices in public spaces.
/wp:paragraph –>
