Latest news on the boat collision on the Danube: captain detained, affected hotel ship has left the country – VIDEO
The police have taken into custody the captain of a cruise ship that collided with a boat on the River Danube near Verőce, in northern Hungary, over suspicion of failing to provide help to the small boat’s passengers.
Two people died in the collision on Saturday night, while a search is underway for another three men and two women. Out of the altogether eight adults who were on board the motorboat, one male passenger sustained head and shoulder injuries but survived and swam ashore. He was later found disoriented on the river bank at Verőce. The man received urgent medical care and was taken to hospital.
According to the police’s website, the captain failed to alarm his crew after the collision. “He did not take any measures to rescue people needing help, nor did he stop his ship.”
The police have so far questioned 25 people, including the crew of the cruise ship, passengers, and people who may have witnessed the collision, according to the website.
The captain is of Czech nationality.
They have not given up the search
Shortly after the captain’s arrest, police posted on their Facebook page that they were looking for five more people.
Those still wanted are: an 18-year-old woman and a 28-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man, a 30-year-old man and a 39-year-old man. Rescue teams are still out today. There were eight people on the boat. A 35-year-old man swam ashore. The bodies of a 39-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were found,
Still unclear, what was the small, but relatively powerful & fast motor boat’s driver doing e.g. how was it navigating the waterway and near a (presumably visible) larger boat?
There are many factors to be investigated …..