On the Karawanken highway

Microsleep: Truck breaks through center guardrail

After the articulated lorry broke through the central reservation, it crashed into the embankment.(Bild: MkG KDT Stv. St Jakob Koraimann B.)

Serious accident in the morning hours shortly before the Karawanken tunnel in Carinthia: The 26-year-old Croatian driver suddenly loses control of his vehicle, which weighs several tons. The fire departments are still in action.

It is 4.40 a.m. when a 26-year-old Croatian driver is driving his articulated truck on the A11 Karawanken highway in the direction of Slovenia. Suddenly he loses control of the vehicle, which weighs several tons. The spectacular accident was probably caused by a microsleep.

Tank of the truck ripped open
"He hit the central guide rail with his articulated truck and broke through it," the police report. "The vehicle skidded across the oncoming lane into the embankment there and came to a halt there, badly damaged and at right angles to the road. As a result of the accident, the truck's tank was ruptured, causing a large amount of diesel to leak out."

Traffic was at a standstill in both directions - the St. Jakob im Rosental fire brigade and the Villach main fire station were deployed immediately.

Recovery is underway
"We are still working with the Grollitsch towing company to recover the semi-trailer, after which we will pump out the diesel that has not leaked," explained commander Hubert Madritsch of the St. Jakob im Rosental fire brigade in an interview with the Krone. "Once the towing vehicle has also been recovered, we will start digging up the contaminated soil. The state chemist is already on site."

One lane could soon be opened in the direction of Slovenia, while the closure in the direction of Villach will remain in place until recovery is complete. "A traffic detour was set up via the service area located there," explained the police. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the accident.