A44 Autobahn Major Accident - 3 Dead, 11 Injured Due to Black Ice

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🇩🇪 Germany: 20,000+ searches

Accident Overview

On January 23, 2026, in the early morning hours, a major series of traffic accidents caused by black ice occurred on the A44 Autobahn near Paderborn in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The incident resulted in 3 deaths and 11 injuries, with both directions of the highway completely closed between Marsberg and Lichtenau.

Accident Details

At approximately 1:30 AM on the 23rd, police received multiple reports from drivers about accidents caused by icy road conditions. According to Bielefeld police, a total of 18 collision incidents occurred in the affected section, with accidents happening in both directions.

The most severe accident involved a collision between a 3.5-ton truck and a semi-trailer loaded with paper. A fire broke out that completely destroyed the semi-trailer, and the truck driver died at the scene, unable to be rescued from the cab. The trailer driver was transported to the hospital.

In the Kassel-bound lanes, two additional people were killed in another accident. A vehicle crashed into a truck trailer, causing fatal injuries to the occupants.

Cause of Black Ice Formation

At the time of the accidents, temperatures had dropped below freezing while drizzle was falling, creating black ice on the road surface. Police described it as "suddenly occurring, extremely dangerous road icing." The freezing drizzle on the frozen ground created widespread ice patches within just a few minutes, which were nearly impossible for drivers to detect.

The German Weather Service (DWD) issued a "significant icing" warning (orange level) for the region, and even declared a red alert—the highest warning level—for nine districts in Lower Saxony, indicating life-threatening extreme icing conditions.

Response and Recovery Operations

Firefighters, police, and rescue teams were deployed on a large scale, with efforts to extinguish the burning trailer continuing until morning. Multiple tow trucks and cranes were brought in to clear the road, and heavy equipment including chain excavators was deployed to remove debris.

Specialized teams from Bielefeld and Münster police handled accident scene investigation and evidence collection. The A44 was completely blocked in both directions between Marsberg and Lichtenau, with traffic diverted to alternative routes.

Political Response

North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) told the German press agency dpa: "The serious traffic accident on the Marsberg highway, which claimed three lives, has deeply shocked us. Our thoughts are with the deceased and their families." He also expressed gratitude to the emergency responders who acted quickly and professionally.

Regional Icing Situation

Beyond the A44 accident, other areas of North Rhine-Westphalia experienced icy road accidents during the night. According to WDR reports, 13 accidents occurred in Steinfurt district alone and 4 in Borken district, resulting in 2 injuries.

In the Grafschaft Bentheim region of Lower Saxony, all general schools canceled classes on Friday because safe student transportation could not be guaranteed. Three vocational schools in Nordhorn switched to remote learning.

A police spokesperson described the road conditions as "catastrophic," and the German Weather Service strongly advised avoiding driving and limiting outdoor activities as much as possible.

Weather Forecast

The German Weather Service predicted similar weather conditions from Friday night into Saturday morning. They warned that black ice could form due to freezing rain in northern and eastern parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, potentially transitioning to snowfall.

Sources

  • T-Online: https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/panorama/ungluecke/id_101096118/glaette-auf-a44-bei-paderborn-drei-tote-bei-schwerer-unfallserie.html
  • Auto Motor und Sport: https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/verkehr/a44-bei-paderborn-voll-gesperrt-drei-tote-und-viele-verletzte-bei-glatteis-unfaellen/
  • News.de: https://www.news.de/panorama/859287266/glaette-chaos-am-23-01-2026-in-deutschland-3-tote-und-11-verletzte-bei-unfallserie-auf-der-a44/1/
  • Radio Hochstift: https://www.radiohochstift.de/nachrichten/polizeibericht/aktuell-glatteis-massenkarambolage-auf-der-a-44.html
  • Westfalen-Blatt: https://www.westfalen-blatt.de/owl/kreis-paderborn/lichtenau/a44-marsberg-massenkarambolage-glaette-unfaelle-tote-3477814

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