Diesel spill shuts A7 motorway lanes after two lorries collide near Uttrichshausen
A collision between two lorries on the A7 motorway near the Uttrichshausen East rest area caused significant disruption on Wednesday afternoon. The crash, which happened at 1:35 p.m., led to a diesel spill and forced lane closures that will last until Thursday, February 5, 2026. Fortunately, neither driver was injured in the incident. The accident involved a semi-trailer truck and another lorry with a trailer, both travelling in the right lane. The leading vehicle braked sharply due to construction-related congestion, prompting the driver behind to react too late. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the second driver performed an emergency brake and swerved left into the middle laneβbut the two trucks still collided.
The impact ruptured the following lorry's fuel tank, spilling around 350 litres of diesel and other operating fluids across the road. Cleanup operations began immediately, but the first and middle lanes will remain closed until the afternoon of February 5, 2026. Traffic is currently being diverted through the third lane to bypass the affected area. Initial estimates place the property damage to both vehicles at approximately β¬150,000. On average, similar diesel spills on German motorways take between two and six hours to clear, depending on the size of the contaminated area, weather conditions, and the availability of cleaning crews.
The A7 motorway will see continued delays as cleanup efforts stretch into Thursday. Authorities have confirmed no injuries, but the lane restrictions and diesel contamination will likely cause further traffic congestion. The full reopening of all lanes is expected once the spill is fully contained and the road is deemed safe for travel.
