Last year’s student wagon accidents weigh on Vestskoven Gymnasium graduates

Students at Vestskoven Gymnasium in Albertslund are approaching this year’s traditional graduation wagon ride with last year’s accidents fresh in their minds, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

In 2025, three graduates suffered serious head injuries in two separate incidents when they struck their heads on low bridges while riding on open wagons. Two of the injured were from Vestskoven Gymnasium.

Ella Kærebye, a third-year student at the school, said she learned of the accident the same evening it happened. “It made you a bit scared,” she told DR.

“It makes you think twice. You shouldn’t stick your head out or have your arms outside the wagon.”

Classmate Gudrun Ahrenkilde said the memory of last year’s incident still looms large. She recalled a friend calling her in distress at 3 a.m., crying and asking, “Does your wagon have a roof?” The concern was whether the same could happen to them.

The 2025 accident involved a roofless wagon from Vestskoven Gymnasium. Students standing on the flatbed struck their heads on a bridge, resulting in severe head injuries.

This year, students at the school say they are taking extra precautions. “We watch out for each other and make sure no one is too drunk,” Ahrenkilde said. “We remind each other not to stand fully upright, and to keep arms, legs, and heads inside the wagon.”

The class has chosen a covered military-style wagon for their ride. “It’s a military wagon with a roof and a lot of grating, so you can’t just swing your arms out,” Kærebye explained.

Nicko Villavicencio Leen Olsson, another third-year student, said the group has waited three years for the celebration but still prioritizes safety. “We have to look after each other.”

The Danish Association for Student Wagon Driving has proposed mandating covered wagons to prevent serious head injuries from low bridges and signs. However, the Road Safety Agency maintains that existing regulations are sufficient if followed properly.