BERLIN – A fatal overnight collision between two freight trains on a German railway bridge left one person dead and two empty railcars tumbling onto a roadway 16 feet below the span, regional officials confirmed Saturday. The crash unfolded in the southern German city of Munich, leaving investigators with no immediate answers about what led to the impact, according to Germany’s national news agency dpa.
Dpa reports that the two derailed wagons fell roughly five meters from the elevated track structure to the street beneath. Authorities from the Munich Police Department have implemented a full closure of the affected roadway, and have issued public warnings asking motorists to reroute away from the area as recovery and cleanup crews work to clear the scene.
In a key update to reassure local residents, dpa confirmed that the fallen railcars were not carrying hazardous materials or any commercial cargo at the time of the crash, meaning there is no ongoing threat to public safety from the incident. Beyond the single confirmed fatality, no additional injuries have been reported by responding officials as of Saturday’s announcements. The victim’s identity has not been released to the public pending next-of-kin notification.