Berlin Inline Marathon 2005

The mass crash, 24 September 2005

This page is probably of no interest for others than those who were involved in the mass crash and (as I) afterwards wondered what happened.

It all happened very fast and no one of the skaters I talked to afterwards could really say where the crash was. So I went back the next day and walking along Alt Moabit I found it.

At 5,6 km, on Alt Moabit at the height of Spenerstrasse.

I saw the skater who fell first. In a few seconds the lane was covered with fallen
skaters (30?, 40?, 50?) to its full widh. There was no way to pass so people just fell
over the ones already lying.
It was not possible to stand up since falling skaters were flying over you. First when
spectators standing on the side opened the blocking to the right lane the falling
stopped.

By then the pack and the possibility for a good result was gone.
Did I mention that I am dissapointed?* (See comment on the bottom of this page.)
I guess I made this page as therapy to get over it.

The marks of all the smashed liquid bottles could still be seen.

Sven from Team Stockholm Speedskaters broke his nose in the crash.
In spite of this he managed to skate the race in 1 hour 20 min. (Photo
taken later in the evening.)