The day after the serious accident at Ottobrunn Abbey in Brunneck, in which several people were seriously injured, what happened is being processed and cleaned up. And there is good news: the director of the house, who first had to be taken to the hospital, was able to leave the hospital on Thursday. An 18-year-old broke through the glazed entrance area of the retirement home with a Land Rover on Wednesday afternoon, injuring five people.
After it was still completely unclear on Wednesday evening why the young man had left Cramer-Klett-Straße in the center of Ottobrunn with his vehicle at around 4.45 p.m. and crashed into the glass facade of the home, the police now have initial insights into the course of the accident. Accordingly, the driver stopped at the intersection with Putzbrunner Straße when the traffic light was red. Shortly thereafter, for reasons that are still unclear, he lost consciousness at the wheel. As a result, the car was steered to the right in an uncontrolled manner and accelerated sharply, it brushed against a wall and then drove unchecked into the glass facade of the monastery. The vehicle only came to a stop inside the building.
The crash left clear traces on the vehicle of the 18-year-old who caused it.
(Photo: Claus Schunk)
At the time of the accident, the director of the monastery and other employees of the home were in the offices behind the glass facade; the manager and another colleague were hit by the car and injured. Both, like the 18-year-old who caused the accident, had to be taken to hospital for treatment due to their injuries. Two other people, including the passenger, according to the Ottobrunn fire brigade, were slightly injured.
The forces offered a picture of devastation. “But it was amazing how quickly they were there and acted,” says Anna Stielner, spokeswoman for the KWA monastery in Brunneck, who was also in the main building at the time of the accident, the day after the accident.
A day later, the employees and residents of the monastery try to find their way back to normal, even if it is difficult and the traces of the terrible accident are still visible in the entrance area. “But it’s already looking a lot better. We’re tidying up and have already ordered new furniture,” says Stielner. A civil engineer was already there to inspect the reception. He was able to deliver good news: The statics of the building are holding up. Shortly after the accident, the volunteer fire brigade also had fears that the impact of the massive vehicle could cause major damage. As a precaution, they cleared and secured the abbey’s swimming pool, located directly below the entrance, immediately after the accident.
The shock among the employees and residents is of course deep, says KWA spokeswoman Stielner. There is now a lot of talk, the care provider is in constant use, has long since informed all relatives about the situation, the pastor who is employed in the monastery is also in the house and is trying to provide support. Fortunately, none of the residents witnessed the accident directly; at the time of the accident everyone was in their rooms. The residents are now very happy that the director of the monastery is allowed to leave the hospital, said Stielner. “And we have also received many other good wishes and messages.”
The damage to the building should be repaired soon. Wooden boards, which had been installed by the fire brigade on Wednesday evening, are still blocking the entrance area. The total damage caused by the accident is estimated by the police at around 80,000 euros, of which 30,000 euros are attributable to the Land Rover alone. At Bruneck Abbey, however, they are only glad that no more people were injured.