Overview
- Shortly before 3 a.m., a breakdown caused a traffic jam on the A8 near the Widderstall rest area at Merklingen.
- A third truck overlooked the end of the queue and hit two stopped vehicles, police spokesman Daniel Frischmann said.
- The rear driver was severely trapped and was freed after about 45 minutes using heavy equipment and two winches, according to fire chief Timo Ruhland.
- Rescue teams reported the emergency corridor was blocked and lanes became obstructed during the operation, hindering access.
- The Stuttgart-bound carriageway was closed until early morning for recovery and oil cleanup with a special sweeper, two tow trucks removed the wrecks, and police opened an investigation as one hazardous-goods trailer was confirmed empty.