The A2 will probably remain closed between Theeßen and Burg-Ost in both directions until Wednesday morning after the serious accident involving dangerous goods on Tuesday. The police have not yet been able to get to the scene of the accident. She assumes at least two deaths.
The Autobahn 2 is expected to remain closed until Wednesday morning after the serious accident involving a dangerous goods transporter with explosions. More than ten hours after the rear-end collision, the police were still unable to get to the scene of the accident late Tuesday evening, as a spokesman confirmed in the evening. The risk of further explosions is too great. It can be assumed that at least two truck drivers are dead, he said.
Even drivers not all recovered yet
However, it is expected that the vehicles will not be recovered until Wednesday morning. Therefore, the highway must remain closed overnight. Several truck drivers involved in accidents have also not been rescued so far. One thing is certain: one of the five drivers suffered minor injuries.
Truck with dangerous goods drove up
According to the current status of the investigations and witness statements, the driver of the dangerous goods transporter is said to have overlooked the end of the traffic jam in front of a construction site between Theeßen and Burg and drove up. “He pushed three other trucks into each other,” it said.
A fifth truck driver drove into the scene of the accident. The truck that pulled up last was loaded with high-pressure containers filled with nitrous oxide – ie laughing gas. A fire quickly developed as a result of the collision. The flames spread from the truck with the nitrous oxide containers to the dangerous goods transport. Toxic substances were released, so a restricted radius of 650 meters around the scene of the accident was necessary. This made it difficult for rescue workers to deploy.
Danger notice now lifted
On Tuesday afternoon, the Jerichower Land district had issued a danger report for several hours. Residents along the A2 should keep windows and doors closed. Air conditioning and ventilation should remain off. The municipalities of Burg, Möser and Möckern were specifically affected. The hazard notice was lifted early Tuesday evening.
A truck is said to have loaded formaldehyde
According to the fire brigade control center in Jerichower Land, one of the trucks had loaded formaldehyde. This substance is mainly used to make products durable. In addition, formaldehyde is used as an adhesive, for example for furniture, interior design and prefabricated construction, as well as for cleaning agents. It is considered carcinogenic and can form explosive mixtures with air.
more on the subject
MDR (Mario Köhne, Marcel Knop-Schieback, Susanne Ahrens, Nadine Hampel, Maria Hendrischke), dpa
This topic in the program:MDR SACHSEN-ANHALT – The radio like us | August 29, 2023 | 13:00 ‘O clock