250,000 hits

Successful search after accident involving fire department

On the way to the scene, the fire engine was cut off by a truck on the A1. The helpers were only able to swerve into the crash barrier.(Bild: FF Ebelsberg)

"Appeal for witnesses after an accident involving a fire engine on the A1 Westautobahn" - this is what the Ebelsberg volunteer fire department (Upper Austria) posted on Facebook after an incident last Friday. A total of 250,000 people helped in the search for the wanted driver - with success.

"We drove onto the highway at an emergency slip road with our blue lights and sirens flashing. It's very narrow at this point. Suddenly, a truck driver switched from the middle lane to the right-hand lane. Our driver was able to avoid a collision with the truck. However, he had to turn the steering wheel and crashed into the crash barrier," says Manuel Studener, commander of the Ebelsberg fire brigade, describing the incident.

Getting a replacement vehicle
Fortunately, nobody was injured in the accident, but the damage to the rescue vehicle is enormous. "We have received a replacement vehicle from the Linz professional fire department. However, the damage caused is not yet foreseeable," says Studener.

(Bild: FF Ebelsberg)

However, the appeal on Facebook for the truck driver who had driven away was successful: more than 250,000 people saw the call for help and shared it. On Monday, the wanted driver finally contacted the police himself. "I didn't expect that," says Studener happily.