Two die as Viking River Cruise ship strikes German bridge

ERLANGEN , Germany, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Two crew members died when a river cruise ship struck a bridge in Erlangen, Germany, police said.

The cruise ship Viking Freya, owned by Viking River Cruises AG, left Erlangen with 230 passengers aboard early Monday morning. It was headed down the Main-Danube Canal on its way to the Danube River and to Budapest when it struck a rain bridge suspended over the river. The roof-mounted wheelhouse was sheared off, killing the two people inside.

They were identified only as a 49-year-old crewman who was guiding the ship in place of the captain, and another crew member, 33. Both men were Hungarian citizens, ITV.com reported.

The wheelhouse was retractable for times the ship traveled under low bridges, but it was not lowered Sunday.

None of the 181 passengers or 47 other crew members was injured. They remained on the long, glass-sided ship until rescue workers could extend a walkway allowing them to disembark.