River Cruise Ship Captain Arrested After Collision

A river cruise ship captain has been detained by police in Hungary for investigation of a fatal collision on the River Danube. The captain of the river cruise ship Heidelberg, a Czech national, has been questioned by police who suspect him of failing to stop and assist victims or report the accident.

Two dead, five missing

Police say a small motorboat carrying eight people was involved in the collision, with only one survivor. Two bodies were recovered from the water, and five remain missing.

Authorities were only alerted to the accident when a roadside found a man with a head injury. The 35-year-old man had managed to swim to safety. He shed light on the collision, which sparked a major search along the river. His damaged motorboat was later found along with the bodies of two of his fellow passengers. Five others remain missing.

“Based on the suspicion of police, the captain did not alert his crew after the accident, did not follow provisions of the rescue protocol and took no action whatsoever to save the persons afflicted,” police said. “Police talked to the man and drew the conclusion that he was probably the victim of some kind of boat accident.”

A river cruise ship involved in a collision has been identified

At least 25 vessels and drones have been involved in the search along the river for the remaining five people since the weekend, said László Balázs, head of Pest County Search and Rescue Service.

The Switzerland-registered Heidelberg river cruise ship was tracked down and showed some damage to its hull, consistent with a collision with a smaller vessel.

Police say they interviewed and obtained statements from several crew members and passengers before detaining the captain. They have initiated criminal proceedings, but no specific charges have been announced yet.