Budapest Police investigators have claimed that the Ukrainian captain of the river cruise ship Viking Sigyn was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs when his vessel collided with and sank a tour boat in an accident that killed over 20 people in the Danube River late last month.
A police spokesman confirmed that the individual tested negative for traces of alcohol and other substances immediately after the collision with the tour boat Hableany on May 29.
The captain, who is the only suspect thus far in the incident, has since been released on a US$52,000 bail. His lawyers have said he has been ordered by the court to wear a locomotion transmitter and to remain in Budapest for an undetermined period.
The police are also looking into the possibility that the captain may have been too exhausted to operate his vessel at the time of the incident.