Fatal bike accident in Berlin: Attackers from cement mixer drivers should be in psychiatry

When the driver of a concrete mixer fatally injured a cyclist at the end of October, the driver himself was also attacked.

Fatal bike accident in Berlin: Attackers from cement mixer drivers should be in psychiatry

When the driver of a concrete mixer fatally injured a cyclist at the end of October, the driver himself was also attacked. A 48-year-old stabbed him in the chest with a knife immediately after the accident. Apparently he is suffering from a serious mental illness.

Two months after a knife attack on the driver of a concrete mixer truck, who had just hit a cyclist in Berlin, the public prosecutor's office is seeking a psychiatric hospitalization for the suspect. A corresponding application had been submitted to the Berlin district court, the prosecution announced. Accordingly, there are indications of a serious mental illness of the 48-year-old.

The homeless man stabbed the concrete mixer driver in the chest immediately after the accident on October 31 while rescue workers attended to the cyclist who was trapped under his vehicle. The 64-year-old driver suffered serious injuries as a result.

The 44-year-old cyclist died in hospital a few days later. The accident sparked debate because a special fire service vehicle was stuck in traffic due to a road block by climate activists from the Last Generation group and was late arriving at the scene of the accident. The police filed criminal charges against two activists, among other things, for failure to provide assistance.

The suspect fled after attacking the driver, but was caught a few days later. Because of indications of incapacity due to a mental illness, he was then temporarily taken to a special psychiatric clinic instead of being held in custody.

According to the public prosecutor's office, a preliminary report that has been prepared in the meantime substantiated the suspicion of incapacity, which is why she is now applying for permanent accommodation in a psychiatric ward in a so-called security procedure. The court must decide on the opening of proceedings. According to the public prosecutor, investigations into the activists reported by the police are still ongoing.