Drama on the A28: horse transporter overturns – fire brigade saves animals!

Drama on the A28: horse transporter overturns – fire brigade saves animals!

A terrible incident occurred on December 4, 2025 on the A28 in the Oldenburg district when a horse transporter with a trailer overturned shortly before the Kirchhatten exit. The accident occurred around 9 p.m. and the driver, who comes from Hungary, was fortunately able to free himself from the vehicle with almost no injuries. There were two horses on board, one in the trailer and one in the transport, which were reported to be lying down and very frightened ndr.de.

The alerted fire department was quickly on site and was supported by two veterinarians who were called to the scene of the accident. With the help of first responders caring for the frightened animals, veterinarians were able to administer sedatives before firefighters freed the horses. An experienced first aider who is already trained in dealing with horses played a crucial role, which Matthias Witthöft, spokesman for the Oldenburg district fire department, particularly emphasized. He thanked her and the emergency services for their exemplary efforts, which were not easy due to the extraordinary situation.

Coordinated approach

Around 60 firefighters from various local fire departments, including Altmoorhausen, Dingstede and Falkenburg, were on duty. At 10:30 p.m. both horses were rescued, largely uninjured, and were reloaded into a horse trailer provided. Meanwhile, the A28 had to be completely closed in both directions, which led to traffic delays for some time. The direction of travel to Bremen was reopened after the horses were freed, while the opposite direction remained closed for safety reasons.

The entire operation to rescue the animals was successfully completed at 11:03 p.m. and the site was handed over to the police. An emergency doctor and the rescue service were also on site in order to be able to react quickly in the event of further incidents, reported presseportal.de.

Rescuing animals on the road

Incidents like this highlight the challenges associated with transporting animals on our roads. In an article on l-drive.ch discusses the importance of choosing safe transportation methods and taking appropriate precautions when crossing animals on roads. Techniques for reducing wildlife accidents, such as acoustic warning systems and scent fences, are showing progress, but here too, comprehensive information and preventive action must be taken.

The tragic incident on the A28 is a reminder that extra care and attention is needed when transporting animals. The rapid response of the emergency services and the support of first aiders helped ensure that the animals were freed from this predicament largely unscathed.