Seven-Year Sentence for Drunk Driver Who Killed Seven German Tourists in Italian Village

Italian media reported on Friday that a drunk driver who caused a fatal accident in an Alpine village in Italy in 2020 has been sentenced to seven years in jail for killing seven German tourists.

Stefan Lechner, 29, was driving through the village of Lutago near the Austrian border, an area frequented by skiers, when the incident occurred in the early hours of January 5, 2020. Reports indicated that he was four times over the legal alcohol limit at the time.

According to earlier reports, the collision resulted in the deaths of six individuals, with 11 others sustaining injuries. The victims, a group of German tourists, had just disembarked from a shuttle bus returning from a nightclub when Lechner’s car struck them at high speed.

Lechner’s blood alcohol level was found to be between 1.9 and 2.0 grams per liter, significantly exceeding the legal limit. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, although the prosecution had sought a ten-year sentence.

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During the trial, the bus driver testified that he had attempted to signal Lechner to slow down by flashing his headlights. Moments later, the tragic collision occurred, hurling some of the victims several meters into the air.

Lechner’s defense argued that he had been temporarily blinded by the headlights, leading to the accident.

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The accident occurred in South Tyrol, a province in Italy with a predominantly German-speaking population, known for its scenic Dolomites mountain range. Lutago, situated in the picturesque Aurina Valley, is a popular tourist destination, particularly for skiing at Klausberg and Speikboden.

The village, with around 800 residents, is also known as the filming location for the popular Italian television series “Un Passo dal Cielo” (“One Step from Heaven”).