Munich, Germany— A cargo truck driver was killed early Saturday after his vehicle collided and left the carriageway on the Autobahn south of Munich, shutting down a key freight route for most of the morning.
The crash happened just before 6:30 a.m. on the A8 corridor. Police said the truck, fully loaded, struck the central barrier, jackknifed, and came to rest across two lanes. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were directly involved.
Traffic backed up quickly. Five kilometers of standstill. Bavarian highway patrol diverted cars at the Holzkirchen junction while recovery teams worked to clear diesel and twisted metal.
"The impact was massive. The cab was completely destroyed," a responding firefighter said. "We had to cut the driver out. There was nothing more we could do."
Investigators are looking at several factors. Speed, fatigue, and a possible technical defect. The truck's tachograph and dashcam were seized for analysis. The road surface was wet at the time.
Autobahn GmbH confirmed the stretch remained closed until 11:45 a.m. Crews had to repair 30 meters of guardrail and clean a fuel spill before reopening. Freight firms reported delays across southern Germany.
Police said the deceased was a 46-year-old German national from Rosenheim district. His name has not been released pending family notification. The company that owns the truck is cooperating.
The prosecutor's office in Munich has ordered a full vehicle inspection. Results are expected next week. A witness appeal is still active.
The northbound lanes are open again. Traffic is moving but slow. The cause remains under investigation.
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