Serious train accident near Breitenbrunn: Transporter under wheels!

Serious train accident near Breitenbrunn: Transporter under wheels!

This morning, on December 4th, 2025, a serious accident occurred near Breitenbrunn at the unguarded level crossing on Loppenhausener Straße. At around 7 a.m., a 58-year-old driver crossed the tracks in his van without noticing the approaching passenger train heading towards Pfaffenhausen. The result of the dramatic incident was a collision in which the train dragged the transporter around 60 to 70 meters. The driver of the van was slightly injured and had to be taken to hospital, while the nine passengers and the train driver on the train were uninjured. The material damage is estimated at around 30,000 euros, with the van suffering a total loss of around 10,000 euros and the train suffering damage amounting to 20,000 euros. This information comes from the Augsburg General.

Alerted emergency services, including the fire brigades from Breitenbrunn and Pfaffenhausen as well as the police and emergency doctor, ensured rapid deployment on site. The section in question between Pfaffenhausen and Krumbach was closed until midday, when train traffic could resume as planned. The RB 78 was particularly affected: trains from Mindelheim ended in Pfaffenhausen and from Günzburg in Krumbach. To provide relief to travelers, buses were used.

Repeated incidents at the same railway crossing

This tragic incident, which is not the first time, throws a sharp spotlight on the dangers at unrestricted level crossings. There was already a serious accident in July 2025 at exactly the same location, in which an 83-year-old driver collided with a regional train and was seriously injured. Uncontrolled crossings pose a significant risk as they are often overlooked by drivers. A look at the statistics shows that, although the number of railway crossings in Germany is decreasing, such dangerous collisions still occur frequently. According to Welt, accidents happen at German level crossings about three times a week.

Around 37 percent of level crossings are not technically secured, which makes them particularly dangerous. More effective security is being planned, but implementation may still take a long time. Deutsche Bahn does not plan to have technical security for Breitenbrunn until 2032. The responsibility for safe road routing often lies not with the railway companies, but with the responsible transport authorities, who often do not have sufficient resources available. This circumstance creates a complex web of challenges for everyone affected.

The tragedies in these places are not just numbers. They are also a reminder that work needs to be done to significantly increase safety at level crossings. As long as this does not happen, the danger remains that accidents like the one that happened in Breitenbrunn today will be repeated.

It is important for those affected, especially families, to know that the railway companies are seriously working on a solution. Raising awareness among road users is also crucial: everyone is called upon to recognize and respect the dangers of such crossings.