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Driver Error Suspected in Düsseldorf Tram Derailment as Police Probe Holiday Crash Wave Across Germany

Investigators now point to driver misconduct as the common thread behind this holiday weekend’s crashes.

Overview

  • Police and Rheinbahn say the late‑November Düsseldorf derailment was not caused by a technical fault; a negligence inquiry targets the operator, and his driving permit has been withdrawn pending the outcome.
  • In Leipzig, officers cite excessive speed on a slippery road by a 26‑year‑old Audi driver who lost control, hit an oncoming VW, struck a signal mast and injured a waiting cyclist; charges for endangering traffic and negligent bodily injury are being examined.
  • Autobahn police near Gelsenkirchen halted a 52‑year‑old whose breath test exceeded five per mille, took a blood sample, seized her licence and opened criminal proceedings after reports of severe swerving and wrong‑way incursions.
  • In Delitzsch, a transporter loaded with pyrotechnics hit a low railway underpass after the driver misjudged vehicle height, prompting fire‑service precautions and a Deutsche Bahn inspection that found no significant bridge damage.
  • A 69‑year‑old man died in hospital after a serious crash in the Hochsauerlandkreis, where specialized investigators documented the scene as inquiries into the cause continue.