One person has died and seven others were injured after a trolleybus left the roadway and slammed into a supermarket in the Austrian city of Salzburg, according to emergency services

The electric-powered bus was travelling through a northern district of the city when it veered off course at an intersection and ploughed into the front of the store, shattering glass and scattering debris across the pavement and shopping aisles

A spokeswoman for the Austrian Red Cross said paramedics fought to save one victim at the scene but were unable to revive the person

Seven others were taken to nearby hospitals, two of them in serious condition. Dozens of emergency workers, including firefighters, police officers and multiple ambulance crews, were deployed as rescuers searched the damaged building and secured the vehicle

Witnesses described scenes of panic as shoppers and staff rushed to escape the impact zone. Some people were treated on the pavement for cuts, bruises and shock while others were carried out on stretchers

Authorities have not yet released information about the identity of the person who died or whether the casualties were passengers on the trolleybus, supermarket customers or staff members

Police cordoned off the area around the intersection as investigators began examining the crash site, documenting skid marks, vehicle damage and the condition of the overhead power lines that supply the trolleybus network

Technical experts are expected to inspect the braking system and steering of the bus, while officers review any available surveillance footage and interview the driver and eyewitnesses. Officials have not ruled out mechanical failure, human error or a sudden medical emergency involving the driver

Local authorities said structural engineers were called in to assess the stability of the supermarket building after the collision damaged its façade. The store remained closed while debris was cleared and safety checks were carried out

Salzburg operates an extensive trolleybus system that is generally regarded as safe and environmentally friendly, and serious crashes involving the network are rare. The incident has nonetheless raised questions about safety at busy intersections where public transport routes run directly past commercial premises