Drug trip ends in horror accident: Mini Cooper overturns near Erlangen

Drug trip ends in horror accident: Mini Cooper overturns near Erlangen

A serious traffic accident rocked the A3 near Erlangen on Sunday afternoon, June 15, 2025. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., a serious collision occurred about four kilometers after the Erlangen-Tennenlohe junction in the direction of Passau. A 32-year-old man, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, crashed at high speed into the Mini Cooper of a 45-year-old woman who was in the left lane. The impact was so violent that the woman's vehicle skidded, hit the center barrier and ended up on the grass verge. There the Mini rolled over several times before coming to a stop on its wheels, badly damaged, as NN.de and [Nordbayern.de].

The consequences of the accident were serious: the 45-year-old suffered serious injuries and was immediately taken to hospital. The driver, however, remained relatively uninjured, apart from minor bruises and abrasions. Instead of looking after the seriously injured woman, he continued his journey and only stopped 1.5 kilometers later on the shoulder, where the police finally became aware of him. During an initial check, the police found clear signs of drug use - a preliminary drug test was positive.

Legal consequences and investigations

The public prosecutor's office has already initiated criminal proceedings against the 32-year-old, which are aimed at negligent bodily harm, endangering road traffic and unauthorized removal from the scene of an accident. A blood sample was ordered and the perpetrator was admitted to a specialist clinic. The investigation is being carried out by the Erlangen Traffic Police Inspectorate, which is currently clarifying all the details surrounding the incident.

Problems of drug use in traffic

Traffic accidents are often linked to drug use in public. An analysis shows that the number of traffic accidents under the influence of drugs in Germany has risen continuously since 2004. This development casts a shadow over road safety and makes it clear that there is an urgent need for action to reduce potential dangers. According to statistics documenting the development of the number of traffic accidents under the influence of drugs until the end of 2023, the authorities are facing major challenges. The numbers and other interesting data can be viewed on Statista.

It remains to be hoped that this unfortunate incident in Erlangen is a wake-up call for vehicle drivers to become aware of their responsibilities on the road and not to underestimate the dangers of drug use. The outcome of this investigation is eagerly awaited.