Overview
- Police and fire services say the crash happened around 12:30 a.m. between Dreieck Wanlo and the Erkelenz‑Ost junction on the carriageway toward Heinsberg.
- A 33-year-old from Heinsberg driving a Mercedes the wrong direction collided head-on with a Peugeot driven by a 47-year-old from Grevenbroich.
- Both drivers were heavily trapped in their cars and were freed with hydraulic rescue tools before being taken to hospitals in Mönchengladbach and Erkelenz.
- The 47-year-old died in hospital a few hours later, and police report the suspected wrong-way driver remains seriously injured but in stable condition.
- Officers drew blood samples and seized the 33-year-old’s license as part of the probe; the A46 was fully closed for hours and reopened early afternoon, and authorities urged motorists to report wrong-way alerts immediately.