Kassel (dpa/lhe) - Four men were seriously injured in two traffic accidents on Autobahn 44 near Kassel on Monday morning. A 46-year-old man is in mortal danger, police said. According to the announcement, the first accident occurred in the early morning between the Breuna and Zierenberg junctions. A tire burst on a trailer truck. The truck then left the roadway, broke through a guardrail and fell down a steep embankment.
The seriously injured 55-year-old driver was able to be rescued from the driver's cab by first responders before the vehicle caught fire, the police said. The accident resulted in damage totaling 80,000 euros. Because of the rescue and salvage work, the A 44 in the direction of Kassel had to be closed for several hours. Miles of traffic jams ensued.
According to the police, a few hours after the first accident, another accident occurred at the end of the traffic jam. According to the information, a 41-year-old drove almost unbraked against a trailer truck on the hard shoulder and then crashed into a car. Three men suffered serious injuries and one woman suffered minor injuries. A 46-year-old man is said to be in mortal danger. The police put the total damage at around 45,000 euros. Because of the subsequent accident, the A 44 had to be closed again for hours.
