Six months after the fatal wrong-way driver crash in the Eifel, the trial of the accused US soldier began today in district court. Trier. According to prosecutors, he was drunk and driving in the wrong direction on Autobahn 60 when the collision occurred near Landscheid. The 23-year-old driver died and his two passengers, who were 24 years old at the time, suffered serious injuries.
The US soldier was accused of negligent homicide and negligent bodily injury. The 24-year-old man was stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base in the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm and is currently being held there.
Trials before German courts in particular
Germany actually handed over investigations of US soldiers to the US military justice system. This is what is regulated in the additional agreement to the NATO Forces Statute. But here, the Trier prosecutor’s office decided differently.
The case remains in the hands of German investigators so that the three German victims and their relatives can participate in criminal proceedings. US military criminal law does not provide for any additional charges.
According to the court, five plaintiffs have been admitted to the trial, including two women who were seriously injured in an accident on the evening of May 3 in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251118-930-306098/1
