Overview

• A 45-year-old unlicensed driver lost control of his VW in Köthen on Thursday morning, colliding with a guardrail and traffic sign before crashing into a family home.
• Authorities say the driver’s breath test registered 4.39 per mille, more than four times the German legal limit at a level deemed life-threatening.
• The impact tore a sizeable hole in the house’s exterior wall and left the vehicle worthless, though the driver sustained only minor injuries.
• Police have opened several criminal proceedings against the man for driving under the influence and causing property damage.
• Health authorities warn that blood alcohol levels above 3 ‰ can be fatal, reinforcing calls for stricter drunk-driving enforcement.