Coach overturns on the A96 near Buchloe – at least two dead

Reference to a previous bus accident

At the time of the crash, according to police, around 40 to 50 passengers were on board the coach, which was travelling from Munich towards Switzerland. Initial medical care was provided by emergency doctors and rescue services from the Ostallgäu, supported by fire brigades from the region and personnel from the Bavarian Red Cross. A helicopter was also deployed.

The accident evokes memories of a serious bus crash that occurred only recently in Switzerland. "Erst kürzlich starben fünf Menschen bei einem Unfall eines niederländischen Busses in der Schweiz. Drei weitere wurden schwer, sieben mittelschwer und 30 leicht verletzt, wie die Kantonspolizei Graubünden am 10. September berichtete", the authorities said in connection with the current incident. The comparable scale highlights the risk of long-distance coach travel.

Closure and diversions

Police set up a closure of the A96 between the Buchloe-Ost junction and the Kreuz München and urged drivers to avoid the area entirely. There were significant traffic jams on the diversion routes around Buchloe and in the Ostallgäu.

An expert was called to the scene to clarify the cause of the accident. According to police, both a possible technical defect in the vehicle and a medical issue affecting the driver, as well as the influence of weather and road conditions, are being examined. According to initial findings, there was no indication of fault on the part of other road users.

Investigations and hotline

The public prosecutor's office took over the investigation, while the local police inspectorate began interviewing witnesses and occupants. A telephone hotline was set up for relatives, through which bereaved family members and concerned relatives could obtain information. Those affected were also cared for at a nearby assembly venue.

Transport ministers and authorities pointed to the ongoing review of safety standards for coaches on German motorways. According to the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior, the case is being closely coordinated with the Swiss authorities, as both the departure and possible destination points of the coach lie in cross-border travel traffic.