Traffic chaos after accident on the A3: 10 kilometers of traffic jam at Krunkel

Traffic chaos after accident on the A3: 10 kilometers of traffic jam at Krunkel

Krunkel/NR

In the morning of September 4, 2024, there was a serious traffic accident on the BAB3 in the direction of Cologne, which resulted in considerable traffic impairments. At around 9:40 a.m., a 32-year-old driver of a Mercedes Vito, who comes from the Rhein-Main area, clashed on the rainwet road.

The accident happened at the level of the motorway kilometer 55.200 in the area of Krunkel when the driver was exposed to a combination of heavy rain and aquaplaning at an unadjusted speed. At a surprising moment, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which then came off the road. The vehicle collided with the center protection plank, turned against the clockwork direction and finally came to a stop on the middle lane.

damage and follow

The damage to the vehicle was significant: the Mercedes Vito suffered total damage. During the subsequent accident, the police also found that the tires were in a critical condition. The profile depth was below 1.6 mm far from the legal requirements, which is a significant security risk.

Over an entire route of around 200 meters, debris parts of the car provided a picture of the destruction on all three lanes. In addition to the vehicle parts, the motorway was extremely slippery due to leaking operating materials - oil and fuel - which also made the road impossible. This led to a considerable backlog that extended to up to 10 kilometers.

The situation on site was critical. Because of the high amount of liquids and the continued rain, the road was extremely greasy. The motorway master was commissioned to clean the street. However, the journey was challenging: a poor rescue alley and many vehicles in the traffic jam delayed the arrival of the emergency services by over an hour.

traffic impairments

After an in -depth use of the motorway master, the cleaning of the side strip could be carried out quickly, which ultimately offered the opportunity to pass traffic past the scene of the accident. Despite these measures, it took a significant time for traffic to flow again, and many drivers had to come to terms with long waiting times.

This incident illustrates the dangers that are related to unfavorable weather conditions and unsuitable vehicle states. The combination of inadequate tire profile and aquaplaning represents a high risk that can not only bring the driver but also other road users in great danger. Safety in road traffic should always be a top priority.