How Did 5 People Get Hurt in 2 Crashes That Closed the A8 Near Bad Aibling?

Quick answer: Two crashes in quick succession on the A8 near Bad Aibling in Upper Bavaria left five people slightly injured and closed the carriageway towards Salzburg for almost three hours overnight into Monday, 19 October 2026. Total damage was estimated at more than €215,000.

Key facts

• What: Two crashes — an initial collision and a follow-up collision in the tailback
• Where: A8 near Bad Aibling, Upper Bavaria, Germany — carriageway towards Salzburg, shortly before the Bad Aibling junction
• When: Night to Monday 19 October 2026; first crash around 23:20, road fully closed until 02:15
• Casualties: Five people slightly injured
• Damage: More than €215,000 in total (around €165,000 in the first crash, around €50,000 in the second)
• Road impact: Carriageway towards Salzburg fully closed for almost three hours; traffic diverted at Irschenberg junction
• Source: Rosenheim traffic police (Verkehrspolizeiinspektion Rosenheim), via Merkur

What happened

In the night to Monday, 19 October 2026, two crashes happened in quick succession on the A8 near Bad Aibling, shortly before the Bad Aibling junction on the carriageway towards Salzburg, according to Rosenheim traffic police.

Around 23:20, a 53-year-old Italian driver was travelling in a Ford Tourneo in the left lane towards Salzburg. When he noticed a much faster vehicle approaching from behind, he moved towards the middle lane to make room. Almost at the same moment, the following driver — a 28-year-old from the region in a Mercedes AMG — also moved right to overtake. The two vehicles collided heavily in the middle lane.

The force of the impact flung the Mercedes to the left against the central barrier. The Ford spun to the right and came to a stop facing against the direction of travel on the hard shoulder. Both drivers and a 50-year-old woman travelling as a passenger in the Ford were slightly injured and were taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals. A Labrador travelling in the Ford escaped unharmed. Both cars were write-offs, and police put the damage from this first crash at around €165,000.

Second crash in the tailback

Only a short time later, a second crash happened at the same spot. A 75-year-old driver from the region recognised the blocked crash site ahead and braked his Audi in time. A 32-year-old driver from Hesse, following behind in a Dacia, reacted too late and drove into the Audi with great force.

The two vehicles wedged into each other and blocked the middle lane. Both drivers were slightly injured, and the 32-year-old Dacia driver also had to be taken to a clinic. Both cars had to be towed away, and the damage from the second crash was put at around €50,000.

Road closure and emergency response

Because of the extensive debris field and leaked operating fluids, police fully closed the A8 towards Salzburg for several hours, until recovery and clean-up work finished at 02:15. Traffic was diverted at the Irschenberg junction. Drivers stuck in the queue between the Irschenberg junction and the crash site were allowed to turn around on the motorway under police escort and leave via the Dettendorf emergency exit.

The response involved the Rosenheim and Holzkirchen motorway maintenance depots, three ambulances, an emergency doctor and the rescue services operations manager, as well as the volunteer fire brigades of Au, Dettendorf and Irschenberg, with six vehicles and around 35 personnel.

Frequently asked questions

### How many people were injured in the A8 crashes near Bad Aibling? Five people were slightly injured across the two crashes, according to Rosenheim traffic police.

When did the A8 crashes near Bad Aibling happen?

The first crash happened around 23:20 in the night to Monday, 19 October 2026. The second crash happened a short time later at the same spot, in the tailback behind the first crash.

Where exactly did the A8 crashes happen?

On the A8 near Bad Aibling in Upper Bavaria, shortly before the Bad Aibling junction, on the carriageway towards Salzburg.

What caused the first A8 crash near Bad Aibling?

According to police, the Ford driver moved towards the middle lane to make room for a faster vehicle approaching from behind, while the following Mercedes driver moved right to overtake at almost the same moment. The two vehicles then collided heavily in the middle lane.

How long was the A8 closed after the crashes?

The carriageway towards Salzburg was fully closed for almost three hours, until recovery and clean-up work finished at 02:15. Traffic was diverted at the Irschenberg junction.

How much damage did the A8 crashes cause?

Police estimated the total damage at more than €215,000 — around €165,000 from the first crash and around €50,000 from the second.