Serious coach crash on the A3 near Wörth an der Donau: 20 people injured

Course of the accident on the A3

The stretch around Wörth an der Donau lies between the junctions in the Regensburg district. Due to the recovery of the vehicles involved and the ongoing rescue work, there were significant traffic disruptions on the A3 in the affected section. Motorists had to expect congestion and delays.

The police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. The focus is on why the rear-ending vehicle failed to recognize the slow-moving traffic in time. There were no initial indications of a technical failure on any of the vehicles. Witnesses to the incident were asked to contact the police.

Investigation into the cause

Coaches are a familiar sight on autobahns like the A3, especially on weekends and during the holiday season. According to traffic experts, rear-end collisions in slow-moving traffic are among the most common causes of accidents on German autobahns. The distance to the vehicle in front and attentiveness at the wheel are considered to be the decisive factors.

The Regensburg district is located in the Free State of Bavaria. The A3 autobahn crosses the Regensburg area in an east-west direction, connecting the greater Regensburg area with the Nuremberg area and beyond toward Würzburg. Particularly on Sundays at the end of holiday periods, the route is traditionally heavily congested.

Rescue services, firefighters, and police coordinated the operation following the accident. The ADAC was also involved in managing the traffic congestion and flow, according to police. No information was initially available regarding the extent of possible property damage to the vehicles involved and the coach.

Consequences for traffic

The police announced that further information on the course of the accident and the nature of the injuries to those affected would be published as the investigation progresses. The coach and the second vehicle involved were secured for the accident investigation and forensic evidence collection.

As a police spokesperson further stated, the recovery work at the scene of the accident lasted several hours. Traffic on the A3 in the section could only flow freely again after the road had been cleaned and released by the police.

At the time of the accident, traffic on the A3 was moving slowly, as described by police. Such situations are considered particularly prone to accidents because following vehicles have only short reaction times when traffic suddenly slows down.