The accident happened just after noon a kilometer from Prague Castle, one of the main attractions in the Czech capital. The car was parked on a sloping street and suddenly began to move on its own. Due to a slight collision with a tram, the car then gained more speed.
After about 100 meters, the unhinged car hit a passing young woman on the sidewalk. The vehicle crushed her against a wall between two shop windows. The 23-year-old woman was seriously injured. Despite immediate and frantic resuscitation efforts that lasted more than half an hour, she eventually died at the scene.
Police are investigating why the car started rolling. The handbrake was probably not properly engaged, a spokesman said in an initial response.