Germany Autobahn Pileup: 259 Car Crash, 66 Injured, No Deaths

by Yuliya Talmazan | July 20, 2009 at 11:55 am

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Over 250 cars collided and formed a giant pile-up on the A2 motorway near Braunschweig in northern Germany late on Sunday. Miraculously, no one died, although 66 people sustained injuries. Ten people are said to be fighting for their lives. It is believed that the accident has been caused by slippery road conditions, as it was raining heavily at the time of the collision. The excessive speeds some motorists drive at on the autobahn might also be to blame. A2 motorway connects Ruhr area in the west and Berlin in the east.

More than 300 ambulances, fire engines and police cars rushed to the scene to tend to the 66 people injured in the crash. The crash was blamed on cars aquaplaning on puddles and a low sun hindering drivers.

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albertacowpoke

at 12:49 on July 20th, 2009

A massive motorway pile-up in Germany involving 259 cars has left 60 people injured.

The series of accidents happened yesterday near the town of Braunschweig in Lower Saxony when several drivers lost control of their vehicles due to heavy rain and excessive speed.

Police said ten people suffered life-threatening injuries and 21 others were seriously injured as a result of the collisions on the on the A2 autobahn between Hanover and Peine in the north of the country.

albertacowpoke

at 12:53 on July 20th, 2009

Picture Gallery and blog on this link

Big Freakin News (www.bfn.im) (not verified)

at 19:52 on July 20th, 2009

Thanks a million for sharing this link to some photos. I'd of loved to use the image shown on The Sun's post about this tragic event, but it is copyright protected.

Again, many thanks to you.

See my story on Big Freakin News here (http://www.bfn.im).

Yuliya Talmazan

at 13:01 on July 20th, 2009

Nice find, albertacowpoke. Thanks for that!

albertacowpoke

at 13:21 on July 20th, 2009

Mehr als 300 Rettungskräfte von Polizei, Feuerwehr und Sanitätsdiensten waren im Einsatz. Die Feuerwehr richtete vor Ort eine Verletztensammelstelle ein, von der aus Hubschrauber und Krankenwagen die Opfer auf die Krankenhäuser der Region verteilten. Als wichtigste Ursachen neben dem extremen Gegenlicht nannte die Polizei, dass die Fahrer ihre Geschwindigkeit und die Sicherheitsabstände nicht an die Verhältnisse angepasst hätten.

Als Glück im Unglück bezeichnete es der Polizeisprecher, dass die Rettungsfahrzeuge die Unfallstellen passieren konnten. Viele unbeteiligte Autofahrer mussten allerdings über Stunden ausharren, ehe nach der Vollsperrung der Autobahn die Polizei abschnittsweise die Autos gegen die eigentliche Fahrtrichtung zur nächstgelegenen Abfahrt umleitete.

More than 300 Rescue workers attended the scene. The fire department established a Casualty Collection Point. From there helicopters and Ambulances transported the injured to regional hospitals. Police said the accident was attributable to extreme blinding and the fact that drivers did not adapt their driving to road conditions. Maintain proper distance behind vehicles was another reason.

Luckily the rescue vehicles were able to navigate to the injured between cars. Many drivers not affected by the accident had to wait hours, before the Autobahn was opened partially, from exit to exit and drivers could take detours.

End of translation

albertacowpoke

at 13:22 on July 20th, 2009

This is the largest pile up in the history of Autobahn A2

Roy C

at 14:20 on July 20th, 2009

No excuses. Never should have happened. Refusal to adopt the preventative measures in terms of radar, enforcement of the law, and general common sense.

albertacowpoke

at 14:29 on July 20th, 2009

Dear Lord, never let common sense become so rare that it's mistaken for genius.

In any case having traveled the Autobahn more times than I care to recall, as a general rule it's very safe and traffic enforcement is no less than it is anywhere in North America. The autobahn is high tech and probably has the surface of anywhere in the world.

Granted, German drivers are aggressive, but generally very safe. In fact most accidents in Germany happen on roads that have speed limits.

People were heading into the sun and blinding was part of the problem. Not adapting to road conditions was the other.

It appears that the rescue response was second to none.

Roy C

at 18:51 on July 20th, 2009

Over the years as a driver, I have had to admit over and over again to having committed an error. I always say that if I don't admit the error, I will compound the mistake.

What I see is that speed doesn't allow you to anticipate what you need to anticipate and distractions of any kind diminish concentration.

Now, if the problem is that you are blinded by the sun or you can't see because of the rain, the answer always is that you can't be traveling faster than what will allow you to see three seconds in advance.

I am sure otherwise, technically and all, the Germans are great. It is the human factor of self-control, the weak link in the chain.

Also, I saw how the Italians drove in the fog. No sense at all.

Brad Jenkins (not verified)

at 17:41 on July 20th, 2009

If this happened in Knee Jerk Reaction Police State Australia the speed limit would be dropped to 100 K's and the Autobahn's days as you now know them would be just a distant memory.....................I'm sure the German's will come up with a well measured adult response.

Paschen

at 18:02 on July 20th, 2009

This sort of accident on a German Autobahn is rather rare.

High speed is safer on a well build Motor way then the opposite, since drivers pay attention, where as at low speed they fall a sleep so to speak.

At least that is what CAA study fund in 1988 in Canada trying to find out why the Accident rates one Autobahn in Germany where lower then on the HWY in Canada where speed limits where the norm.

albertacowpoke

at 19:35 on July 20th, 2009

We still have too many two lane highways in Canada for one thing. As you know well the Autobahn is a well build road, build for speed. Canadian roads are also subject to severe cold and heat, which creates a lot of potholes. I would never think of driving those kind of speeds on Canadian highways.

caj1

at 18:56 on July 20th, 2009

This seems to be an unusual accident, but I agree with Roy C., there are no excuses...this happened in the country that produces BMWs and Audis! I know that the speed limit is higher than average on the German Autobahn...maybe it should be reduced? Sun glare happens everywhere!

albertacowpoke

at 19:37 on July 20th, 2009

From what I read of this accident, there was a speed limit on that stretch of 80mph. Sometimes mother nature plays with us and this is what seems to have happened there.

Big Freakin News (www.bfn.im) (not verified)

at 20:44 on July 20th, 2009

80mph is about 130km/hr. The top speed limit sign I've ever seen was 100km/hr, but like you said, Canada does not have roads built to handle weather so well... Or our weather just sucks.

I also live in Canada, and know damn well how bad the pot holes are. I live in Sudbury, Ontario, and when there was a survey had for the worst pot holes in Canada, not one, not two, but THREE of the Sudbury roads were in the top 10 worst words in Canada. Sad, is it not?

None-the-less, a speed limit of 130km/hr, and me being the way I am, usually going 10 to 20km/hr quicker, would be damn scary on such a busy highway such as the A2 motorway.

158

at 20:37 on July 20th, 2009

That was a very bad accident

sara star

at 21:49 on July 20th, 2009

What is the speed limit?

caj1

at 22:18 on July 20th, 2009

80 mph (miles per hour) as per albertacowpoke. I believe it, though in the eastern U.S., you will not see any speed limits above 65 mph.

Liga (not verified)

at 04:27 on July 21st, 2009

Is it know if there is a particular dirver at fault or couple of them? Insurance companies will have a lot of work :(

albertacowpoke

at 05:56 on July 21st, 2009

When I read the article in German newspapers no fault had been blamed yet. I think for the first part of this incident they were busy with rescue operations.

Sara - the speed limit on that stretch of road was 130 km. Normally on the autobahn, 130 km feels like you're standing still when the BMWs and Mercedes fly by you.

The Germans have a nasty habit of flashing at you, if you.re blocking the passing lane. Trucks have a speed limit of around 110 through out I believe. You don.t see them out of the right lane too often.

In any case, I drove in Germany for a total of 9 years over three tours of duty and I must say I did feel more comfortable on the autobahn than a highway in Canada.

All vehicles there get a complete safety check every two years. It's done by government test stations and they are very particular. You won.t see old wreck on the road, that are at least prevalent in Alberta.

Tallfriend (not verified)

at 09:22 on July 22nd, 2009

You are right - I too feel safer on the Autobahn driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph than I do on the U.S. interstates at 65 mph. The Germans don't allow vehicles that are dilapidated like we do here in the U.S. Most German drivers have respect for the left lane as the fast lane, and their roads are in superior condition at all times - even though they have the same hot/cold weather that the U.S. does. Their priorities on keeping things running right should be an example to the rest of the world. It's a pleasure going there.

I also wonder if this stretch of A2 had no speed limit - there are still many sections of the Autobahn that have no speed limit.