Multiple collisions and crashes resulting from snowfall and severe weather conditions
In and around Dresden, heavy snowfall and storm left a trail of incidents over the weekend. The snowfall started on Friday evening, leading to drifts in many areas.
One such close call occurred Friday night when an emergency doctor vehicle near Pirna encountered trouble. The crew, comprising a 57-year-old driver and a 67-year-old doctor from the Johanniter, were en route to an emergency when they needed assistance themselves.
The vehicle slipped off the snow-covered and slippery county road 8763 between Meusegast and Burkhardswalde, tipping onto its driver's side during a right curve. Both occupants were taken to a clinic as a precaution.
Fire departments from Meusegast and Burkhardswalde responded to the scene, and the police recorded the accident. The icy roads and continued snowfall made the recovery of the emergency doctor car challenging, even causing a tow truck to slide with its wheels spinning.
Eventually, an 18-ton crane from a tow service, ADAC, was required to lift the damaged vehicle back onto its wheels and then onto the tow truck. The estimated damage to the expensive vehicle is in the five-figure range.
The snowfall also caused problems in the Lusatia region's traffic on the day before Christmas Eve. For instance, a bus on an extremely slippery road in Pulsnitz slid into a ditch. Despite trying to free itself, the bus leaned precariously at times and threatened to tip over.
The fire department secured the accident site and called a recovery company to extricate the bus. The passengers were evacuated and transferred to a replacement bus, while the road remained closed for two hours.
The car accident involving the emergency doctor vehicle near Pirna, despite happening during heavy snowfall and icy roads, was not solely related to weather conditions, as it occurred on a general-news worthy car-accident scene, specifically on county road 8763 between Meusegast and Burkhardswalde. The slippery roads, a common issue amidst the snowstorm, caused further complications during the recovery process, even affecting a tow truck in the same region.
