[D] - Serious bus accident near Hockenheim (L722): Coach carrying tourists collides with lorry (articulated lorry) - 18 people, some seriously injured - MANV Major operation by fire brigade & rescue service & police 5 rescue helicopters (RTH / ITH) in action Hours-long rescue operation into the night - Large field of debris On Thursday afternoon, at around 4 p.m., a serious traffic accident occurred on the L722 between Hockenheim and Speyer (Rhein-Neckar district), in which a total of 18 people were injured. Several of them seriously. The fire brigade, rescue service and police were in major operation for hours. 5 rescue helicopters were also in action. According to current information, a coach was traveling on the L 722 from Schwetzingen towards Speyer shortly before 4 p.m. when, for reasons still unknown, it crossed into the oncoming lane near Hockenheim and collided with a semi-trailer. The side of the semi-trailer or articulated truck, which was loaded with tires, was completely ripped open. According to current information, the coach belonging to a company in the Karlsruhe district was carrying over 30 passengers from the USA, Canada and Australia. The majority of the passengers were injured in the collision. In total, 4 people were critically injured, 5 people were seriously injured and 9 people were slightly injured. The bus driver and the driver of the semi-trailer are also among the injured. Two people were trapped in the bus and had to be freed by the fire department using technical rescue. A total of 5 rescue helicopters and 7 ambulances, as well as several ground-based emergency doctors, were deployed. The fire departments from Hockenheim, Schwetzingen and Brühl were on site with around 40 helpers and 12 vehicles. Emergency chaplains rushed to the scene of the accident to look after the uninjured, witnesses to the accident and emergency personnel. After the accident had been recorded and reconstructed, as well as the necessary towing and cleaning measures, the 722 highway was reopened to traffic in both directions shortly after 11 p.m. Forces deployed: Hockenheim Volunteer Fire Department Schwetzingen Volunteer Fire Department Brühl Volunteer Fire Department Ludwigshafen Fire Department (GRTW Disaster Control Rhineland-Palatinate) Senior emergency physicians, organizational leaders, management group Emergency chaplains Emergency services Emergency physicians 5 rescue helicopters (RTH, ITH) SEG Rapid Response Group Police Expert Traffic Accident Reporter Helicopter Squad Police Recovery Company -------------------- Use of the material or further distribution to third parties is not permitted and will be reported in accordance with Section 1004 of the German Civil Code Einsatz-Report24.de Independent photo and video journalism. Creation of photo and video material for print, online and TV media. Website: www.einsatzreport24.de Email contact: [email protected] Now also on Facebook: / einsatzreport24 #Busunglück #MANV #Großeinsatz