A tragic collision occurred on February 11, 2025, when an ICE train crashed with a truck at a railway crossing near Hamburg. The incident resulted in the death of one passenger and left another 25 injured, prompting immediate emergency responses and investigations.
The accident unfolded at approximately 14:30 when the ICE, traveling at high speed toward Munich, collided with the truck loaded with railway materials at the Rönneburg crossing. Despite the driver’s attempts to cross before the barriers lowered, he was unable to exit the vehicle, which led to the catastrophic encounter. According to eyewitnesses, the impact of the collision was severe enough to shatter windows of the front carriages, causing panic initially followed by many passengers helping each other.
The tragedy unfolded swiftly, causing one passenger, identified as 55 years old, to succumb to life-threatening injuries shortly after being treated at the accident site. The fire department reported 25 other injuries, six of which were categorized as moderate, and the remaining were minor. Following the incident, emergency responders from the Hamburg fire department, comprising around 80 personnel, arrived to manage the rescue efforts.
Among the passengers on the ill-fated train was comedian Bernhard Hoëcker, whose management confirmed he was physically unharmed during the accident. Witness accounts described how the immediate response included the rapid evacuation of the train, which was filled with 291 occupants. It took about two to three hours post-accident to completely evacuate the passengers with the aid of buses organized by the Deutsche Bahn.
The police and federal authorities swiftly initiated their investigations. Preliminary reports suggested the truck attempted to navigate the crossing just as the barriers activated, which will be fundamental to determining accountability and potential safety protocol violations. Streets surrounding the area remain closed as investigations continue.
Train services along the route between Hamburg-Harburg and Buchholz have faced significant interruptions, but the Deutsche Bahn assured passengers dealing with delays of about 15 minutes due to re-routing. Replacement bus services were introduced to transport passengers between affected stations.
Hamburg’s Innensenator Andy Grote commended the response teams for their professionalism during this challenging incident, expressing condolences to the bereaved family and well-wishes for the injured. Such efforts reflect the community's commitment to accident relief and comprehensive safety measures moving forward.
With investigations underway, insights gleaned from this tragic occurrence could lead to enhanced safety efforts at railway crossings, aiming to prevent future incidents similar to the one faced on this fateful February afternoon.