« Are you still quite normal? » – Diepresse.com
Because he had used his car like a weapon, a 21-year-old apprentice received 20 months in prison. The young man’s 432 hp BMW is now to be auctioned.
February 21, 2025: An electrical engineering apprentice has a chase with the police in Vienna, of which an official should later say: « I have been with the police for 16 years. I have never experienced anything like this. I have experienced it crazy for the first time. » The 21-year-old apprentice was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Tuesday. The punishment was limited (on probation).
The young man had accelerated with his 432 hp BMW M3 in the city area to more than 230 km/h. And other road users forced to break down. On the occasion of this behavior, Judge Wolfgang Etl from the criminal court caught up with the defendant, which was probably also on the tongue of many process skyscrapers: « Do you forgive the question, but are you still quite normal? » Invisible answer from the apprentice: « It wasn’t good at all. » The – not yet final – punishment was given to the previously unsolicited due to endangering physical security, severe coercion and attempted serious bodily harm.
The young man was sitting in custody after his arrest until February 27, just under a week. Then he was released against various requirements and instructions on the order of the Vienna public prosecutor.
With 230 km/h through Vienna
The prospective electrical engineer, who earns 2500 euros net in the second year, had picked up two friends from Strasshof on the Nordbahn (Gänserndorf district) with his tuned vehicle. The trio wanted to visit a restaurant in Vienna. Because he apparently drove too quickly and the car made suspicious exhaust noises, a civil patrol became aware of the red BMW on the A23. The crew tried to stop the handlebar. Instead of stopping, the young man accelerated. At first he turned onto the A22 and accelerated on the Raffineristraße – as mentioned at the beginning to up to 230 km/h. A maximum of 50 km/h are allowed there. Then he turned abruptly at the beaver heap. In Stadlau, the 21-year-old raced through a residential area with a 30 km/h restriction before taking the highway again with a « Höllententon ».
The civil patrol hardly met with a 295 hp Audi A4, but in the end managed to ram the BMW and thus stop. The 21-year-old and his two friends who had feared their lives in the vehicle were not injured in the crash-as did the two police officers. The now accused could be arrested without resistance.
As the two police officers emphasized as witnesses, the driver had translated crossings several times in red and carried out risky overtaking maneuvers in the oncoming area. « We assumed that a serious accident can happen at any time, » said one of the two officials. « In my opinion, it was dangerous, » said his colleague.
« Motif was ridiculous »
The defendant was neither under alcohol nor under the influence of other drugs at the time of the crime. « His motif was ridiculous, » said his defender Peter Philipp. The young car car had rebuilt his racing car, but he had not authorized the changes. « He was afraid, the police came up and takes away the car, » added the defender.
That’s exactly how it will come. The car – damaged by the ram – was confiscated. Now it should be auctioned. The 21-year-old was taken away from the driver’s license for one and a half years. « They used the vehicle like a weapon, » the judge said to the accused. The question of whether he was aware of « that people could have died, » said the apprentice. (MS/APA)
