Tragic accident: Firefighter dies while on duty on slippery A23!

Tragic accident: Firefighter dies while on duty on slippery A23!

A tragic incident occurred on January 1, 2026 in Schleswig-Holstein. Slippery weather conditions caused by heavy hailstorms led to a fatal accident on the A 23 between Hanerau-Hademarschen and Schafstedt. A 41-year-old firefighter lost his life on the way to duty after he lost control of his SUV and slipped into a ditch. The accident happened around 1 p.m. on highway 127 between Warringholz and Schenefeld, as reported by Feuerwehrmagazin.

The weather conditions had severely affected the road surface, resulting in numerous slippery accidents. Two other drivers also lost control of their vehicles; While one was thrown into the ditch, the other rolled over. In total, three people suffered minor injuries in these incidents. There were also several collisions due to the slippery road, although the damage to property was minor. The A23 was closed for hours due to the accidents.

Solidarity with the fire department

The Steinburg district fire brigade association expressed its dismay at the loss of a committed comrade and offered pastoral support to the affected volunteer fire brigade. The community shows solidarity and stands together in such difficult times.

The police are calling for people to adapt their driving style to the weather conditions. The risky conditions, which resulted in many accidents throughout Northern Germany, remain a challenge in the evening. As NDR reports, you should drive particularly carefully and carefully in order to prevent further accidents.

A look at road safety

The weather has a significant influence on road safety, as the Federal Environment Agency states. Accidents often increase in the colder months due to slippery roads caused by snow, ice or hail. It is assumed that the situation could change in the future, because while there are already fewer accidents with personal injuries in the cold months, higher temperatures in summer could lead to an increasing accident rate due to climate change.

In summary, the events of January 1st represent not only a loss for the fire service community, but also a serious appeal to all road users to be particularly careful during the winter period.