Berlin, Germany— A major multi-vehicle pileup on a German Autobahn injured 14 people on October 31, 2026, as heavy fog cut visibility to near zero and set off chain collisions.
The pileup happened at 6:45 a.m. on the A2 near Magdeburg, in Saxony-Anhalt. The stretch is straight and flat, often fast. This morning, fog was so thick drivers could not see 20 meters ahead. Police said one car braked hard after missing an exit. The truck behind could not stop. Then everything piled up.
By 7:30 a.m., more than 30 vehicles were involved, including six trucks and 24 cars. Fourteen injuries were confirmed. Two were serious, with one driver trapped for an hour in his cab. The rest were minor cuts and whiplash. No deaths were reported, which police called luck.
The Autobahn was closed in both directions. Northbound lanes were blocked by jackknifed trucks. One truck carrying paper rolls spilled its load. Another truck’s fuel tank leaked. Firefighters had to contain it. Southbound lanes were closed to let rescue helicopters land. Two helicopters flew two victims to Magdeburg hospital.
Drivers described panic. One woman said she saw brake lights, then nothing but white. She hit the car in front at low speed. Then another car hit her from behind. She could not get out because doors were jammed. She crawled out through the window.
The German Weather Service had warned of dense fog for the region overnight. It said temperature inversion trapped moisture near the ground. Visibility dropped below 50 meters. No speed limit is posted on parts of the A2, but fog rules require 50 km/h with fog lights. Many drivers did not slow enough.
Autobahn GmbH said electronic signs had been switched to fog warnings at 5 a.m. It said crews were out spreading anti-fog salt. It said it would review whether additional fog detection sensors were needed. This stretch had a similar pileup in 2021.
Insurance companies estimated damage in the millions. Tow trucks lined up for kilometers. The road was expected to stay closed until evening because asphalt had to be cleaned of diesel and debris. Traffic was diverted through country roads, causing jams.
By afternoon, all injured had been taken to hospitals. Wrecked cars were still being lifted onto flatbeds. Fog was lifting but the highway remained shut.
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