A14 near Bregenz: Speeder under the influence of drugs causes accident with five injuries in the Pfänder Tunnel

Sequence of the accident in the Pfänder Tunnel

According to police, the person who caused the accident was driving at excessive speed in the passing lane in the direction of Germany when, shortly after 5:00 a.m., he veered into the normal lane. There he collided with the rear of the family's car. The force of the impact caused the family car to overturn, strike the tunnel's crash barrier, and come to a stop on its roof in the normal lane. According to police, the family was able to free themselves from the vehicle on their own.

The family consists of a 43-year-old Serbian national residing in Switzerland, who was traveling in the normal lane in a car with Swiss registration. She was in the car together with her husband and the two children. A breathalyzer test on the driver was negative (0.00 mg/l).

Findings on the person who caused the accident

The person who caused the accident is a 43-year-old German who had two passengers in the vehicle at the time of the accident. A breathalyzer test showed a value of 0.3 per mille; however, a subsequent examination of fitness to drive revealed, according to police: "Aufgrund von vorangegangenem THC-Konsum wurde die Fahruntauglichkeit festgestellt." The man's driver's license was confiscated on the spot. The police also stated that he had been traveling, according to police, "mit überhöhter Geschwindigkeit."

In total, five people were injured in the accident, including the two children aged seven and ten, as well as both parents. The police have not yet provided further details regarding the extent of the injuries or the current health condition of those involved.

Impact on traffic

The Pfänder Tunnel on the A14 is one of the most important connections between Austria and Germany. The full closure of both directional lanes for approximately two and a quarter hours led to significant disruptions in commuter traffic and beyond in the early hours of Sunday morning. The tunnel was not reopened until around 7:30 a.m.

The exact circumstances of the accident are still being investigated by the Dornbirn Highway Police Inspectorate. In addition to the question of speed and drug use, the cause of the lane change from the passing lane to the normal lane is also part of the ongoing investigation. Further legal consequences for the person who caused the accident are expected once the investigation is concluded.