Austrian Rightist Leader Joerg Haider Dies in Car Crash

The Austrian political stage received a heavy blow on early Sunday morning, when Joerg Haider, the head of the far-right Austrian party died in a car crash. The man was 58 and was seen as a major player in political life, though at times, his views were seen as reminders of Nazi conceptions.

Being a controversial character, his death in a traffic accident was immediately put under investigation in order to se if foul play had been involved. It seems that the party leader was driving his brand new Volkswagen Phaeton on Sunday morning at about 1am on the outskirts of the Klagenfurt region in southern Austria when he veered off the road while trying to overtake another car.

The speed at the time of the accident is said to have been 142 km/h in a 70 km/h zone, which investigators say led to the car overturning several times after hitting a concrete sidewall and a hydrant.

Haider was pronounced dead upon his arrival at the hospital and doctors say there is no way he could have survived, given the injuries he sustained to his head, neck and spine, even if he was wearing his seatbelt.

The car was totally destroyed by the impact, but because it was a new car, mechanical failure was ruled out. Instead, the probable cause of the accident was so far determined to be alcohol consumption, because it's been said Haider had just come out of a club and was heading to his home in Baretal, to celebrate his mother's 90th birthday.

His death leaves a void in Austrian politics as he was known to be very influential by supporters and adversaries alike.