Overview

• The crash happened shortly after 4 a.m. when an Opel Mokka driven by an 83-year-old man from Harsefeld left the road and struck a tree between Hollenbeck and Ahlerstedt.
• About 25 firefighters from Ahlerstedt and Hollenbeck secured the scene, illuminated the area, contained leaking fluids and kept the road closed until 5:45 a.m.
• Rescue crews and an emergency doctor pronounced the driver dead at the scene despite resuscitation efforts.
• Police from Polizeiinspektion Stade and Polizeikommissariat Buxtehude are investigating whether health issues or other factors caused the vehicle to veer off and have urged anyone with information to call 04161-647115.
• The crash comes during a series of unexplained single-vehicle tree collisions on rural German roads involving elderly motorists and has heightened calls for improved road safety measures and driver health monitoring.