Fatal Collision on A61 Near Weilerswist: Smart Car Crashes Under Parked Truck

A tragic accident occurred on the A61 highway near Weilerswist in North Rhine-Westphalia on December 6, 2025, when a Smart car collided at high speed with a parked truck at the entrance of the 'Am Blauen Stein' rest area. The 49-year-old female driver failed to see the truck trailer parked due to all parking spaces being occupied—a common issue during weekends because of truck driving bans. The Smart car became lodged underneath the truck. The 53-year-old passenger of the Smart was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver sustained serious injuries.

Rescue teams faced challenging conditions as they needed to hydraulically lift the truck trailer to extricate the trapped driver. The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) helped illuminate the accident site to support emergency and investigatory efforts. Police are investigating the incident to fully understand the circumstances leading to this fatal crash.

This tragic event highlights ongoing issues with truck parking availability on German highways, which contributes to risky conditions for other road users. Emergency services demonstrated significant effort to manage the complex rescue operation in difficult conditions.