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Society
Photo: DPA

Frozen kraut jam leaves autobahn drivers sauer

Published: 7 Feb 12 15:47 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20120207-40591.html

An accident involving two trucks, a car and a large quantity of sauerkraut caused a 10-kilometre traffic jam on the A5 motorway in the German state of Hesse on Tuesday morning after the German delicacy froze solid on the road.

The autobahn had to be completely closed in one direction while police and volunteers struggled to remove the sauerkraut from the tarmac. According to the police report, the impact caused several plastic bags of sauerkraut to burst and spread across the A5 near Friedberg just north of Frankfurt.

Once it had frozen in the sub-zero temperatures, it proved extremely adhesive. “The road had to be partially salted so that the sauerkraut could be taken off,” the police said in a statement.

The accident happened shortly before 5 am, when the sauerkraut-transport truck hit the back of a car being driven by a 34-year-old woman, after the driver apparently misjudged her speed. The driver of another truck approaching from behind reportedly saw too late what had happened and hit the back of the sauerkraut truck.

The contents of both trucks, plus several car parts were subsequently scattered across the road, causing an estimated €100,000 worth of damage.

Though both truck drivers were fine, the woman was slightly injured in the collision.

The sauerkraut truck was able to drive to a nearby depot, but the other two vehicles had to be towed.

The Local/bk

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

18:19 February 7, 2012 by nadom
If the second truck had been carrying bratwurst we would be in good shape.
18:45 February 7, 2012 by finanzdoktor
@nadom: I don't know, frozen sauerkraut and bratwurst? Messy. But, as a meal, complimented with some mustard, then you have me.
18:53 February 7, 2012 by lucksi
I bet the drivers who were stuck in the traffic jam were some sour Krauts.
19:29 February 7, 2012 by Wobinidan
The Local's policy of puns is kraut of control. These are some of the wurst jokes I've ever heard.
21:23 February 7, 2012 by Bigfoot76
@Wobinidan Excellent! I love you today. lol
14:37 February 8, 2012 by murka
Seeing this in Tagesschau my first thought was - what a perfect story for The Local :)
15:50 February 8, 2012 by vonBeavis
Now where's the truck of potatoes and the truck of mustard when you need them?
16:37 February 9, 2012 by Foreignvader
This story and the comments remind me of "The Best Wurst", Austin, Texas' number one bratwurst joint: thebestwurst.com
18:32 February 9, 2012 by nadom
@finananzdoktor. We could have used the heat from all the stalled drivers from being hot under the collar to heat up the bratwurse & Sourkraut. Do you prefer mild or extra hot mustard. I can buy both from the local german store here in Colorado Springs.
18:35 February 9, 2012 by MikeJarosz
dunkel oder hell?
19:30 February 9, 2012 by homerjaysimpson
all joking aside, the way lorry drivers drive here it's no wonder they ended up in a pickle!
11:40 February 11, 2012 by naguere
Outrageous posts, a laugh a minute.

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