Serious traffic accident in Bark: mobile home crashes into car – several injured!

Serious traffic accident in Bark: mobile home crashes into car – several injured!

This Sunday afternoon there was a serious traffic accident in Bark, which mobilized numerous emergency services. At around 3:50 p.m., the West Cooperative Regional Control Center in Elmshorn was alerted by an automatic emergency call from a smartwatch and several calls to the emergency number 112. The situation was serious: a head-on collision between a mobile home and a passenger car resulted in several injuries, and the fire department was alerted with the operational keyword “TH Y” (technical assistance, with human lives in danger). According to ad-hoc-news.de, the volunteer fire brigades from Bark, Bockhorn, Todesfelde and Hartenholm were on site, as were police forces and the rescue service.

The situation of the driver of the motorhome, who was trapped and seriously injured, was particularly alarming. His passenger, however, was able to free herself from the vehicle, but also suffered minor injuries. The occupants of the other vehicles involved also suffered minor injuries, including several children. In view of the situation, the operational keyword was increased to “TH R15”, which indicates up to 15 injured. A total of six people were taken to the Friedrich Ebert Hospital in Neumünster, while four others refused transport.

Rescue workers on duty

The rescue workers worked hard to free the driver. Hydraulic rescue equipment was used to pull the steering wheel away from the driver so that the injured person could finally be flown to the Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital, Lübeck Campus. The fire brigade's measures also included damming up leaking fuel, disconnecting the batteries and ensuring fire protection. Schafhauser Landstrasse had to be completely closed during the rescue and recovery work.

The entire operation required the interaction of 45 fire departments and various rescue services. The operation, which involved two rescue helicopters - Christoph 12 and Christoph 67 - ended at around 6:40 p.m. according to ad-hoc-news.de and was carried out by the Segeberg police as well Pinneberg monitored. Investigations were also initiated on site to clarify the exact cause of the accident.

The numbers behind the accidents

This incident reflects the unfortunately common reality of traffic accidents. Statistics show that thousands of people in the EU lose their lives or are seriously injured in road accidents every year. Although the number of road traffic deaths in Europe fell by 36 percent between 2010 and 2020, there were still 22,800 traffic deaths in 2019. Preliminary figures show numbers in 18 EU member states are at record lows, providing a bright spot even if the pandemic-related drop in traffic is difficult to measure. For example, Sweden has the safest roads, while Romania had the highest rate in 2020, with 85 road deaths per 1 million inhabitants. Source: europarl.eu.

The fire brigade's approach to such accidents, such as stabilizing the vehicle and gently freeing the patient, is one of the crucial aspects of technical assistance. A good routine can not only save lives, but also prevent additional injuries. Regular training for the emergency services is therefore essential. The “Golden Hour of Shock” emphasizes the importance of a quick rescue, which may have been crucial in this case.