Overturned straw trailer causes chaos on Germany’s A3 motorway near Wiesbaden
A trailer carrying straw bales overturned on the A3 motorway near Wiesbaden-Breckenheim on Tuesday evening. The incident caused a two-kilometre traffic jam and forced a brief full closure of the road. No injuries were reported, but cleanup efforts lasted until midnight.
The crash happened at around 8:55 p.m. when a 41-year-old German driver tried to make room for a police vehicle. Authorities later stated the manoeuvre was unnecessary, as the middle lane remained clear. The trailer tipped over, spilling straw bales across both directions of the motorway.
The A3 was shut completely for 15 minutes before traffic was diverted into a single lane. Emergency crews worked to clear the scattered bales, leading to a two-kilometre backup. Recovery operations continued until roughly midnight.
Police estimated the property damage at around €10,000. The driver’s identity was not released in official reports.
The motorway reopened after the straw was removed and the trailer was righted. Traffic returned to normal flow, though delays lingered for some time. Authorities reminded drivers to avoid unnecessary lane changes near emergency vehicles.
