Total closure ended

Collision between truck and coach claims lives

A serious accident in northern Lower Austria claimed one life and injured several others on Friday.(Bild: BFK Mistelbach, Krone KREATIV)

A traffic accident on the Drasenhofen bypass of the Nord-/Weinviertel-Autobahn (A5) in Lower Austria caused one death and numerous injuries early on Friday morning. According to police reports, a van, a truck and a coach collided in oncoming traffic. The bypass was closed on Friday morning.

According to police information, the van, which was traveling towards the Czech Republic, probably crossed into the oncoming lane and collided head-on with the truck shortly before 7:00 am. A Polish coach, which was driving behind the van, was unable to take evasive action and crashed into the two vehicles that had already been involved in the accident. For the driver of the van, all help came too late - he died at the scene of the accident.

Eleven occupants with minor injuries
The bus and truck drivers were trapped and had to be rescued by the fire department - they suffered serious injuries. Eleven occupants of the coach, which was carrying 24 people, suffered minor injuries. According to the police, there were 22 passengers, the driver and a replacement driver. All three vehicles had a Polish registration, they said. 

North highway closed in both directions
The Nordautobahn was closed in both directions. Following the collision, the bypass around the municipality of Drasenhofen in northern Lower Austria also remains closed for the time being. The total closure lasted until shortly after 12.00 noon due to the complex recovery of the vehicles, according to the ÖAMTC website.

A large contingent of rescue workers was deployed at the scene of the accident. Notruf Niederösterreich spoke of helpers from the Red Cross and the Czech rescue service. According to the ÖAMTC, two "Christophorus" emergency helicopters were also dispatched to Drasenhofen. The seriously injured were flown to nearby hospitals in Brno in the Czech Republic and to Vienna-Meidling University Hospital. 

The bypass near the municipality in northern Lower Austria was closed:

On the alternative route via the B7 through Drasenhofen, there was a lengthy traffic jam, especially in the direction of the Czech Republic. It was recommended to take a wide detour around the Nordautobahn.