Zlaté Hory unveils memorial for 1947 football tragedy

A new memorial has been unveiled near Zlaté Hory to commemorate a tragic traffic accident that occurred on October 26, 1947. The accident claimed the lives of 12 people, including young football players from Jindřichov and their supporters who were traveling to a friendly match in Mikulovice.

Due to the lack of available buses, 25 people were traveling in the bed of a Dodge truck covered by a waterproof tarp. While navigating a sharp turn at high speed, the passengers were thrown from the vehicle. The truck subsequently struck five trees, resulting in six deaths at the scene and six more in the hospital. The 12th victim was a local man from Zlaté Hory who had hitched a ride on the truck.

The memorial ceremony was attended by officials from Jindřichov, Zlaté Hory, and Mikulovice, as well as representatives from the Slezan Jindřichov football club. Local leaders noted that the tragedy profoundly impacted the region, effectively claiming an entire generation of young football players from Jindřichov.