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87-year-old driver rescued from ditch with serious injuries after hours
An 87-year-old driver was rescued from severe hypothermia after an accident in the Kulmbach district. Incidents and accident statistics highlighted.
87-year-old driver rescued from ditch with serious injuries after hours
A serious accident occurred in the Kulmbach district on the night of Friday, October 3rd to Saturday, October 4th, 2025, which posed a challenge not only for those involved, but also for the emergency services. An 87-year-old driver was driving his vehicle from Kleinrehmühle towards Guttenberger Hammer when he left the road to the right in a left-hand bend and found himself about five meters in a ditch. The man who died in the accident remained undetected until late Saturday afternoon. Fortunately, he was found by a 56-year-old road user from the Kulmbach district and the emergency services were immediately alerted, who took the severely hypothermic man to the clinic so that he could be treated. This reports inFranken.de.
When recording the accident, the Stadtsteinach police station found that the driver was alone at the scene of the accident for several hours. Such incidents highlight the importance of paying particular attention to the safety of older road users. Information from the ADAC makes it clear that the ability to react and eyesight can decrease with increasing age. Seniors should therefore always self-critically assess their fitness to drive, especially since they are often more at risk than a danger in road traffic. The ADAC highlights that older drivers are recommended to undergo regular medical examinations, particularly for vision, in order to ensure their road safety.
Another accident on the B85
But it wasn't just the serious accident involving the 87-year-old that caused excitement in the Kulmbach district. There was also a rear-end collision involving three vehicles on the B85 between Kulmbach and Bayreuth. A VW Golf and a Hyundai stopped here due to traffic when the driver of a small van (VW Crafter) recognized the situation too late and drove into the Golf. The impact pushed the Golf onto the Hyundai and both vehicles were no longer drivable. Totally damaged, they had to be towed away. The driver of the VW Crafter injured his left wrist and had to be taken to the hospital. The Bayreuther Tagblatt reported property damage of around 40,000 euros as well as significant traffic disruptions in the Kulmbach - Bayreuth area, as the B85 was temporarily completely closed for rescue work.
The high number of missions and the associated stress make it clear how crucial it is that both younger and older road users have their driving skills checked regularly and act proactively and responsibly in road traffic. The ADAC emphasizes that older drivers in particular are often safer on the road thanks to their forward-looking driving style, but there are also factors such as illnesses and medication that can affect road safety. It is therefore advisable to speak to your doctor if health problems arise.