Shocking accidents in Western Pomerania: Drunk driver injures four people!

Shocking accidents in Western Pomerania: Drunk driver injures four people!

On a sunny Sunday afternoon there was a dramatic traffic accident on the B111 near Buddenhagen in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district. A total of four people were injured, with two of them being taken to the Greifswald Clinic in critical condition. The accident occurred when a 54-year-old driver noticed a vehicle turning too late and slammed on the brakes, causing the rear of his car to swerve and slide into oncoming traffic. As a result, he collided with another car that had also crossed into oncoming traffic, causing a third collision with another vehicle.

The two drivers of the first two cars suffered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. The 31-year-old driver of the third vehicle and his passenger were only slightly injured and were taken to Wolgast Hospital. The rescue work at the accident site required the B111 to be completely closed while a DEKRA expert examined the accident. In total, the damage is estimated at around 55,000 euros. Such incidents highlight the dangers in road traffic and the most common causes of accidents.

Alcohol as a problem factor

Another accident that took place on the same day in Tribsees in the Vorpommern-Rügen district illustrates the problem of drunk driving. At around 4:20 a.m., a 20-year-old driver left the road, first hitting a tree and then a guardrail. The young man became unconscious and had to be rescued from his vehicle by a first responder, but fled before emergency services arrived. The ambulance crew later found the driver on a cycle path in the direction of Langsdorf, where he was taken to Bartmannshagen Hospital. A breath alcohol test showed an impressive 2.3 per mille.

In Germany there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5, which means that drivers with a blood alcohol level of 1.1 or more are considered completely unfit to drive and must expect severe penalties. The influence of alcohol is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. A report from Hesse show points out that over 19,000 traffic accidents in Hesse in 2024 were due to the influence of alcohol, with 970 of them resulting in injuries.

Increasing trend of alcohol-related accidents

The developments in accident statistics are alarming. According to information from Goslar Institute The number of accidents under the influence of alcohol increased to 38,771 in 2022, an increase of 19% compared to the previous year. This requires urgent action to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. Motorcyclists are also particularly risky, as they have up to twice the risk of fatal accidents.

The incidents in Western Pomerania are a sad example of how quickly dangerous situations can arise on our roads, and they call on us to take responsibility. Road safety should be everyone's top priority. This is not only reflected in driving behavior, but also in respect for other road users.