Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - A young woman died in a serious traffic accident in Magdeburg. The 17-year-old was a passenger in a 21-year-old's car, the police said on Saturday. Accordingly, the 21-year-old man was driving on Salbker Chaussee on Friday evening when he lost control of his car in a left-hand bend. According to the police, he was probably traveling too fast, brushed the curb and skidded. The car crashed first into a lamppost and then into a tree. The force of the collision ripped the car in two and caught fire.

The 17-year-old passenger was freed from the completely destroyed vehicle by first responders and witnesses, but succumbed to her injuries at the scene of the accident. The driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries. In the course of the rescue and salvage work, Salbker Chaussee remained closed for about five hours.