Cable car falls at Ještěd mountain, killing one employee

A cable car fell on Sunday at the 1012-metre high Ještěd mountain near Liberec, killing the cabin operator on impact. Fourteen other people in a second cabin were rescued by firefighters and emerged unharmed.

The fatal accident came a day before a scheduled break in service for a safety inspection and routine maintenance work ahead of the winter season. Police have initiated criminal proceedings for negligence.

Last year, the Ještěd cable car, operated by Czech Railways, transported 211,000 people to the top of the mountain. From the summit, there are views into neighbouring Germany and Poland.