Cyclist Fatality at Closed Railway Crossing Amid Germany’s Record Heatwave

A tragic accident occurred on Saturday evening at a railway crossing in Willstätt-Legelshurst, Ortenaukreis, where a 42-year-old cyclist lost his life after attempting to cross while the barrier was closed. The cyclist became trapped on the tracks just as a regional train, carrying 62 passengers, approached. Despite the train driver's emergency braking efforts, the train struck the cyclist, who died at the scene.

Following the accident, passengers aboard the train were evacuated due to the extreme heat conditions that have gripped Germany. They were taken to a nearby sports hall where they stayed for up to three hours. Two passengers required hospital treatment for heat-related circulation problems but were later discharged without complaints.

This fatal incident occurred during a period marked by record-breaking heat across Germany, with last night registering the hottest since weather records began, reaching 29.4°C in Kubschütz. The severe heatwave has severely impacted infrastructure nationwide, including widespread disruptions to rail services with delays, cancellations, and calls to postpone travel. In Ortenaukreis, the railway line between Offenburg and Strasbourg was closed for over three hours due to the crash, affecting several trains.

This event highlights the dangerous combination of extreme heat and transportation hazards in the region. The Green Party has called for increased climate adaptation measures, including air conditioning in public buildings and infrastructure improvements to manage the impacts of rising temperatures.