Copenhagen Council’s small electric garbage collection trucks have been grounded following an accident in the pedestrian street Strøget yesterday in which an American tourist died when one of the vehicles set off on its own.

“This was a tragic accident that obviously has affected our staff,” says Copenhagen Collection Centre Chief Claus Robl.

According to the police, the accident took place while the driver of the truck was in premises collecting garbage. The vehicle started off on its own and ran into an American tourist who had arrived in Copenhagen on a cruise vessel. The man has now been identified.

The grounded vehicles will not be allowed out of garages until the police, the Danish Working Environment Authority and Copenhagen Council have found out why the vehicle began moving without a driver.

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