Hailstorm causes SUV crash on A1 motorway near Emstek after driver loses control
A sudden hailstorm caused a 35-year-old driver to lose control of his SUV on the A1 motorway near Emstek on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred around 7:05 p.m. as the man, from Oldenburg, was travelling toward Hamburg. The driver failed to reduce his speed in the worsening weather, leading his vehicle to skid. The SUV veered off the right side of the road and struck the guardrail. Emergency services later confirmed the car had sustained around €15,000 in damage and required towing.
During the investigation, authorities noted the vehicle's tyres had insufficient tread depth. The driver escaped without injury. Records show this is the first such incident in the area in over a year. The last comparable accident happened on March 25, 2026, when another 35-year-old driver lost control during a hailstorm. A separate mass collision involving eight vehicles and six minor injuries also took place on March 16, 2026, at Hasetal-Ost parkplatz, but no similar cases were reported in the two years prior.
The driver's SUV was severely damaged, and the investigation highlighted tyre wear as a contributing factor. Authorities have reminded motorists to check tyre conditions and adjust speed during sudden weather changes.
