Runaway electric garbage truck kills U.S. tourist in Denmark
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Firemen at the scene after a garbage truck went out of control and killed an American tourist and wounded several others in an incident on Copenhagen's pedestrian street Stroeget, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012. (AP Photo / Camilla Cornelius/POLFOTO) DENMARK OUT
Police in Denmark say an American tourist was killed and four people were slightly injured when hit by a runaway electric vehicle on a Copenhagen pedestrian street.
Police spokeswoman Mette Lindskov says the small garbage collecting vehicle started rolling by itself after the driver had stepped out to empty a trash basket on Stroeget, the 50-year-old shopping artery that cuts through downtown Copenhagen.
Witnesses told Danish media the tourist, whose identity wasn't released, was hit by the vehicle and dragged for several yards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}She declined to comment on media reports that a short-circuit could have prompted the vehicle to start rolling.
Four other people sustained minor injuries Wednesday.