• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Heavy fog and snow cause huge autobahn pile-up in Bavaria

Published: 12 Mar 10 08:51 CET
Updated: 12 Mar 10 13:54 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100312-25833.html

Police in Bavaria reported that up to 170 vehicles were involved in a massive accident on the A8 motorway on Friday morning, as a spring snowstorm and thick fog created dangerous road conditions throughout the southern state.

The cars and trucks were unable to avoid the pile-up, which spanned a one-kilometre stretch of the motorway near Augsburg around 7 am, police said. Major delays were expected as authorities shut down both directions of the autobahn for clean-up. The closure means those heading into the state’s capital of Munich on that road will have to find an alternate route.

One eyewitness said the scene was “absolute chaos” and looked like a junkyard.

“We had very bad visibility, ice was not the main cause of the accidents,” a police officer said.

Police reported that about 80 people were hurt in the accident, 17 of whom were transported to nearby hospitals for severe injuries. Almost 200 rescuers were on hand and set up heated tents to conduct medical exams and treat the wounded.

Meanwhile another 20 vehicles were part of other accidents on a county road between Hunderdorf and Hermannsdorf in the Straubing-Bogen county. Police said driving conditions there were extremely icy and closed the road following three injuries resulting from the accidents.

Up to 30 centimetres of snow is expected in many parts of the country over the weekend, the German Weather Service (DWD) reported this week.

Click here for The Local's weather forecast.

DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

13:50 March 12, 2010 by The-ex-pat
"Heavy fog and snow cause huge autobahn pile-up in Bavaria"

No, not correct. Just because it is printed on the side wall of your tyres that you can do 190 kph, does not mean to say you can. Heavy fog and snow never cause accidents. The inability to drive within the traffic or weather conditions is the cause of accidents. Stop blaming the innocent weather!
13:52 March 12, 2010 by wolfer
On the other hand, it's sunny and warm here in Arizona!
22:52 March 12, 2010 by mixxim
What silly billies they are. Their insurance companies should increase their premiums. Perhaps the police could also prosecute some for driving carelessly? The germans are the only race who still consider it a human right to use the roads as racetracks. This kills many more than America's right to have guns,
02:24 March 13, 2010 by cklb
@mixxim> I agree on that cars probably cause more deaths in Germany than guns here in US. However, that is not because some parts of the Autobahn are without speed limit but mainly because of some idots that are not able to drive, as "The-ex-pat" so nicely stated. If you know what you are doing, you can drive at 200km/h. You will have a higher risk than at 150k's but if you generally adjust your speed according to the condiions probably much less risk than if you are not adjusting to the conditions. As you can see in the picture above, there are quite a few trucks involved in that crash. As far as I know they are limited to 100kmh by the legislation, so speed wasn't the issue, but the missing capability to adjust to conditions. And that's rather because we got all that finely tuned speedlimits in Germany that are supposed to reduce risk, but they also reduce the ability to judge road conditions one ones own...
09:20 March 13, 2010 by mixxim
I am sure you are right, however each one of those involved in the accident thought he was able to drive well and that others were less able. What criteria does one use to decide who can drive safely at 200kpm? Can M. Schumacher? OK some can drive safely at high speeds on racetracks, but confronted with Granny Schmidt pulling out at 100 to overtake, can anyone be said to be safe at 200.

(I love riding my motorbike at its max speed, perhaps everyone else needs training!!!)
10:12 March 13, 2010 by DepotCat
mixxim wrote:

"The germans are the only race who still consider it a human right to use the roads as racetracks."

You havn't been to the UK then..?

Some kid killed himself and his girl friend on a suburban road where I live in West London...He hit a tree and the car folded up on itself. He was estimated to be travelling at 70 MPH on a road that is set at 30 MPH.

While there are speed restrictions on the U.K's roads,motoring organisations are complaining that speed cameras are raking in a fortune because of drivers speeding. Drivers just don't seem to be capable of adhering to speed restrctions, which are very clearly marked, and then complain when they recieve a fine and penalty points on their licence. It has also been discovered as a good way for the authorities to make loads of money...And I mean millions.
10:17 March 13, 2010 by mixxim
OK I admit it. I received a ban for a single speeding offence in Sussex at the same time and for the same speed as the Duke of Westminster (and the same fine too) neither of us caused accidents, killed anyone but our contribution in the form of higher tax caused by higher fuel consumption was not appreciated.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Brutal cold triggers reserve power plants

After exporting power to France earlier this week, Germany has switched on reserve energy plants amid surging demand for electricity due to the ongoing deep freeze hitting Europe. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Artist compensated for two lost French fries

A Munich court on Thursday awarded an artist €2,000 in damages because a gallery lost two 22-year-old chips that were the basis of an artwork in which the fries lay across each other in a cross. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Star cyclist Ullrich found guilty of doping

Germany’s most famous cyclist Jan Ullrich was found guilty of doping and stripped of his third place in the 2005 Tour de France by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Germany expels four Syrian diplomats

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Thursday Germany was expelling four diplomats from the Syrian embassy in Berlin after the arrest of two men suspected of spying on regime opponents. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Berlinale opens with revolutionary drama

Diane Kruger stars as Marie Antoinette in "Farewell My Queen," a lush costume drama set on the eve of the French Revolution that will open the 62nd Berlin film festival on Thursday. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Rent-jumping family caught by police

An eight-person family that avoided paying rent for years by moving house every two to three weeks has finally been caught in the northern German town of Schneverdingen. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

Photo: The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain

What's on in Germany: February 9 - 15

This Week's Highlights: The star-studded Berlinale film festival kicks off in Berlin, Munch goes on view in Frankfurt, and a ukelele orchestra sets up in Munich. READ »

Photo: DPA

Sick pups found in van

German police this week rescued 92 puppies from a van, after the dogs had spent 13 hours being transported across Europe without food or water. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

More National
Highlights
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Sabine Devins tackles immunisations and baby pharmaceuticals in the latest instalment of Motherhood in the Fatherland.
Photo: Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain
SOCIETY »
What's on in Germany: February 9 - 15
Photo: Hugo, Jaap Buitendijk. (c) 2011 GK Films, LLC.
LIFESTYLE »
Find the latest movies in English playing in Germany with The Local's cinema guide.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Germany is battling the increasingly widespread phenomenon of "burnout" which is supposedly costing its economy billions of euros each year.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The economy in shambles, angry street protests and the government on the brink after passing unpopular reforms. But this is not Greece in 2012 – it was Germany a decade ago. Marc Young looks back to see an agenda for the future.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germany’s public transportation largely operates on the honour system, which makes fare dodging easy. You can have your say on how Germany should deal with the problem.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Macho German football legend Rudi Assauer says he has Alzheimer’s Disease, an admission one expert told The Local could help stoke discussion of an illness often considered taboo.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
A 64-year-old tub of American lard has been deemed fit for human consumption by food safety authorities in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
As Hamburg’s legendary Reeperbahn strip gentrifies, Stephen Lowman reports how the city’s “sinful mile” is changing.
Photo: Bavarian International School
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A global education - a Bavarian community
Photo ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin



See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

1326 jobs available
721 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
English-speaking educators (native level)

Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!