Serious Christmas Day Incidents: Multi-Injury Highway Crash Near Bautzen and Major Farm Fire in Passau

On Christmas Day 2025, Germany witnessed two significant emergency incidents with considerable impact. Early in the morning near Bautzen on the A4 highway, a severe accident involved a Mercedes Sprinter carrying nine passengers. The 40-year-old driver lost control around 2:10 AM, causing the vehicle to skid 200 meters before crashing into a bridge railing. The railing penetrated three meters into the vehicle, which subsequently hung precariously over a staircase, preventing it from falling off the highway. All nine occupants were injured, with two in critical condition. Rescue teams painstakingly extricated them from the wreckage before they were transported to local hospitals. The accident caused an estimated 100,000 euros in damage and resulted in the highway being closed until dawn for investigation.

Simultaneously, in the Passau district town of Breitenberg, a large fire devastated a family farm on Christmas Eve. During a family dinner, a circuit breaker alarm alerted them to the blaze. The fire destroyed a barn, stable, garage, and spread to their residential building, causing damages estimated in the lower seven-figure range. Despite the extensive destruction, no human injuries were reported. However, about 25 chickens and 3 rabbits perished. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours, managing to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to the nearby forest. Their work was complicated by a water shortage. Fire investigators from the criminal police have begun examining the site, but the cause remains unknown.

These incidents underscore the serious hazards and emergency challenges during the festive period. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances around both emergencies. The highway accident near Bautzen is under police examination, while the fire cause in Passau is yet undetermined.