Bus And Police Car Collide; Boating Accident On The Rhein; Police Officer Sentenced

News For 14 January 2020

Before you beat yourself up too much about the trials and tribulations of driving in Basel, consider the news today: A passenger bus operated by the BVB - Basel's public transportation system, managed to collide with a Basel police operated patrol van.  Fortunately, no one was hurt.  The accident happened at the Centralbahnplatz, the notorious intersection of tram lines, public transport busses and thousands of pedestrians all hurrying to complete their commutes.

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A freak accident on the Rhein river has resulted in the death of an individual.  On Monday night a cargo ship collided with a rower on the river.  Emergency helicopter, fire-brigade and police forces were on site as first responders.  No information has yet been provided about the victim's identity, nor the reason for the collision.  

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On Monday, January 13, a 54 year old experienced Basel-Stadt Policeman was sentenced to a conditional sentence of 12 months for punching a 17 year old man. The Basel Criminal Court said that the Police Officer should have known that the punch could cause serious injury. The victim sustained a broken bone in his inner eye socket. The altercation took place in Claraplatz when the police, responding to a report of a belligerent, drunken man confronted the victim. The Police Officer denied these claims stating that he only pushed the man and that he subsequently fell.