Overview
- A 22-year-old man was struck and killed after he exited his disabled VW Phaeton on the A44 near Autobahnkreuz Holz, in an incident that occurred Thursday at about 15:40.
- Rescue teams began resuscitation immediately at the scene but the man could not be saved and was pronounced dead on site.
- Police say a 26-year-old driver in a VW Passat approached suddenly and hit the man while he was exiting his vehicle, and an Unfallaufnahmeteam secured forensic evidence.
- The A44 toward Mönchengladbach was fully closed for the accident investigation, traffic was diverted at the Jackerath junction, and Köln's Verkehrskommissariat 2 has asked witnesses to call 0221 229-0 or email poststelle.koeln@polizei.nrw.de.
- The case underlines the high risk of leaving vehicles on autobahn hard shoulders and follows standard police procedure, which could prompt renewed safety reminders and enforcement for stranded drivers.