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Prolonged Rain Triggers Wave of Autobahn Crashes Across Germany

Authorities blame poor visibility, aquaplaning risk, plus speed not adapted to wet roads.

Overview

  • In Thuringia on Thursday, the Autobahnpolizei recorded six serious accidents linked to unadapted speed, injuring three people and causing about €145,000 in damage.
  • On the A71 near Arnstadt, a car vaulted a guardrail, rolled multiple times and caught fire; the 44-year-old driver suffered minor injuries and the motorway toward Schweinfurt was fully closed for roughly 90 minutes.
  • On the rain-slick A81 at Epfendorf, three separate crashes caused an estimated €52,000 in damage, with all three drivers uninjured.
  • On the A61 near Gensingen, a 21-year-old lost control on a wet curve and hit a barrier, leaving about €8,000 in vehicle damage with no injuries reported.
  • Police noted standing water and reduced visibility across affected stretches, with rescue work, road clearance and cause assessments ongoing.