Serious accident in Delmenhorst: Transporter Kracht in freight train!

Serious accident in Delmenhorst: Transporter Kracht in freight train!

In a terrifying incident on the evening of June 25, 2025, a serious accident occurred in Delmenhorst between a van and a freight train. The 28-year-old driver ignored the red traffic lights at an unrestricted level crossing and was seriously injured. Despite the emergency braking of the train driver, the collision could not be prevented. The driver was caught in the impact in the vehicle and had to be released by the fire brigade before it could be taken to a nearby hospital. It is also suspected that the man was under the influence of drugs and also had no valid driving license. Fortunately, the train driver of the unpopular freight train was not injured. [ZEIT] reports that this incident once again indicates the dangers of level crossings.

Such accidents are unfortunately not uncommon in Germany. An analysis of [TÜV Nord] shows that every third accident with trains is done at a level crossing. The fact that 98 percent of accidents with death consequences occur in this area is particularly worrying. The head of the railway technology at TÜV Nord, Stefan Pöting, indicates that the long braking paths of trains are often underestimated. At a speed of 160 kilometers per hour, local trains need around 700 meters to get completely dangerous, which makes the situation extremely dangerous at an unrestricted level crossing. Pöting warns to be too late at the goal but to take a risk.

comparison with other accidents

The incident in Delmenhorst is reminiscent of another accident that occurred on April 1, 2025 in the Steyr-Land district. A 25-year-old truck driver from Amstetten wanted to cross a fitting level crossing, but got into a predicament. His truck, which was loaded with pellets, had to drive backwards several times due to a tight curve, which caused the railway barriers to hang on the structure of the truck. As a result, he could not leave the tracks in time, and a freight train finally collided with the truck. The area loss of the truck was enormous - it fell on the driver's side and caused considerable damage both on the vehicle and on the train. The train driver was able to get to safety in good time, but still suffered minor injuries.

The rescue work also proved to be complicated because the only access road to the scene of the accident was a narrow dead end. The train traffic on the affected route was closed until the afternoon hours in order to be cleaned up. This shows once again how important preventive measures and safety precautions are at level crossings.

The topic of the level crossings should move us all. They are often unsecured risks in road traffic, and responsibility from both drivers and those responsible for traffic safety is enormous. Enlightenment, information and the correct use of existing security measures are essential to prevent further tragic accidents such as those in Delmenhorst and Steyr-Land. Security at level crossings is not just a technical, but above all a human challenge.