In Bonn, an ICE crashes into a car at a level crossing and completely destroys it. The police’s hottest lead seems to be a man running away nearby – just before the collision. The accident leaves many questions – but no injuries.
An ICE drove into a car standing on the tracks in Bonn. There were no people in the car, the fire department and police said. The train driver suffered a shock, the passengers were unharmed.
Despite emergency braking, the train could no longer prevent a collision with the vehicle in the Gronau district. The car was totaled. The ICE was also badly damaged, said a police spokesman. According to initial estimates, the damage is more than 300,000 euros.
The course of the accident raises a number of questions: It was initially unclear why the car was on the tracks. The barriers at the level crossing were closed at the time of the collision. The police are investigating dangerous interventions in rail traffic. In investigations at the address of the vehicle owner, it has not yet been possible to clarify who last drove the car.
According to the police, a witness saw a man running away from the scene of the accident shortly before the loud collision. Police are asking for additional information in their report, which includes a description of the man who ran away.
According to the fire brigade, the area around the scene was illuminated and searched for people with thermal imaging cameras. The approximately 80 passengers on board the train had to switch to another means of transport for their onward journey. The railway line was reopened early Thursday morning.