The Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Pljevlja is still conducting an investigation and expert assessment regarding the accident, in which a foreign citizen lost his life at the "Savin Kuk" ski resort at the end of last year - and they are determining whether there were elements of a criminal offense in someone's actions.
German citizen Sebastian Hertner (34) died on December 20, 2025, when the basket of the “Savin Kuk 2” cable car collided with another one that was empty. His wife was seriously injured. Hanah Espandschied (30). Three other foreigners spent hours on the funicular that day, left in baskets on a steep part of the ski resort on Durmitor after the cable car broke down and the tragedy occurred.
The ODT in Pljevlja then formed a case regarding this case, while the on-site investigation began on the day of the accident and ended on December 21 in the presence of a mechanical expert, while the cause of the accident is expected to be known after the experts make their findings. Police officers collected information from those responsible and employees of the Ski Center "Savin Kuk", seized documentation while expert examinations were ordered.
"We inform you that investigative actions are still being conducted before this prosecutor's office and the necessary expert examinations are being carried out by experts of the appropriate profession, in order to determine whether the actions of any person contain elements of a criminal offense for which they are being prosecuted ex officio, about which the public will be informed in a timely manner," they said to "News from the Pljevlja ODT."
The "Savin Kuk 2" cable car was out of service during the winter due to an accident, while the "Savin Kuk 1" cable car was put into operation at the end of January, with two ski lifts operating without interruption.
Due to the tragedy, the director of the Tourist Center (TC) "Durmitor", which manages the "Savin Kuk" ski center, Marinko Purić resigned at the end of last year, and he said that the cable car and the ski resort had all the required documentation for operation, including valid solutions and permits for the transport of passengers by cable car, inspection reports, reports on testing steel ropes, proper records of installation work, a report on electrical installations, a temporary permit for the operation of the ski resort for 2025, as well as the implementation project for the reconstruction of the "Savin Kuk 2" cable car from 2015.
The Development Bank of Montenegro, which owns the TC "Durmitor", previously hired the Belgrade company "Promezzia", which, together with a team of professors and experts, carried out an extraordinary technical inspection of the ski lifts at the "Savin Kuk" ski resort, while the technical assessment of their installations was carried out by the renowned Austrian company "WPK Austria". The Austrians were selected for this job in a tender in mid-January, and were paid 16,2 thousand euros.
The reconstruction of the cable car at the "Savin Kuk" ski resort is also planned by the Government, while in early February they informed UNESCO that the reconstruction of the "Savin Kuk" ski center will be carried out within the existing dimensions and that a preliminary design is already being worked on. The reconstruction of the ski resort requires caution because it is located within the borders of the "Durmitor" National Park, which has been on the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List since 1980.
The Municipality of Žabljak confirmed to "Vijesti" in early April that they had assigned the development of the conceptual design for the renovation of this ski center to a businessman. To Dejan Ljevnaic, while the editorial office unofficially learned that the document could later be sent to UNESCO. The Development Bank said at the time that the municipality did not have the mandate to engage anyone on their behalf and that the processes would be carried out transparently and legally by state institutions.
The government believes that the renovation of the Savin Kuk cable car would not constitute state aid, as the ski resort under Durmitor serves locals more than Montenegro as a tourist destination. They believe that this investment would not distort competition due to the isolated location of the winter resort and short ski runs.
That the lifts and cable cars at this ski center are in very poor condition and barely meet international safety requirements was stated 15 years ago in the analysis "Concept of the Strategy for the Development of Winter Tourism in Montenegro" and Michael Steinbach"Vijesti" previously reported that the document states that investments must be made in modern ski lifts.
"A huge problem is posed by all the lifts and cable cars, which are without exception in a deplorable state and barely meet international safety requirements. For example, during the winter of 2009/2010, an avalanche destroyed the second support pillar of the upper cable car, but the entrepreneur/operator never replaced it. However, the cable car is still operating. Therefore, if the future of this ski area is to be secured, it is necessary to invest very quickly and extensively in completely new, modern ski lifts and avalanche protection. In its current state, the ski area will not be able to function for much longer," he stated in the document.
In addition to recommending urgent measures for the next three to five years, Štajnbach also said that if there is a desire for skiing to continue to survive in Žabljak in the coming years, an investment volume of around 10 million will be needed to replace chairlifts, "which are more or less destined for waste."
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