Automatic emergency call systems alerted the fire department and rescue services in the early hours of Wednesday morning to a serious traffic accident on the A60 motorway. A car had crashed into construction site safety barriers at the Hechtsheim Tunnel. Thanks to modern technology, the emergency services were alerted immediately and were able to help the injured driver straight away. Shortly before 3 a.m., a computer voice called the Mainz fire department control center's emergency number. A latest-generation smartphone reported that its owner was probably involved in a serious traffic accident and provided the coordinates of the cell phone. Since the control center operator was unable to establish voice contact with the owner and typical noises were heard after a traffic accident, he located the emergency call. It turned out that the cell phone was on the A60 in the direction of Bingen, shortly before the Hechtsheim Tunnel. Construction work was also taking place there at the time. He alerted the Mainz professional fire department and the Hechtsheim volunteer fire department to an unclear traffic accident. At the same time, the Mainz rescue control center received an emergency call from a car manufacturer's emergency control center. Here, too, the automatic system of a modern vehicle had reported a serious accident, so that two ambulances and an emergency doctor had already been alerted. As it turned out, a driver had crashed into the nighttime construction site barriers at high speed. First responders freed the driver, who was initially unconscious, from his vehicle before the emergency services arrived. According to witness statements, the man had driven into the trailer without braking. The fire department secured the accident site and took care of the vehicles involved in the accident while the driver was treated by the emergency services and taken to a hospital in Mainz. The driver of the safety vehicle was in his truck at the time of the accident, but did not need to be taken to hospital after receiving treatment in the ambulance. The cause of the accident is being investigated by the police. The right lane remained open during the rescue operation, so there were no traffic disruptions.

Head of operations: Michael Ehresmann

Vehicles BF/FF: 4/2 Personnel BF/FF: 16/13

Images attached: Image rights belong to the City of Mainz

Early Wednesday morning, the Mainz fire department received an emergency call from a hotel in Mainz. A fire had broken out in one of the rooms, filling the hallway on that floor with smoke. The professional and volunteer fire departments were immediately alerted.

On arrival, it became apparent that the hallway was not filled with smoke as reported, but there was a distinct smell of burning. The affected room was quickly located and the door opened. The room was slightly filled with smoke and one person was found inside. This person was treated by the emergency services as a precautionary measure due to smoke inhalation.

The fire, which was found in the area of the bed, was quickly extinguished by the fire department. As there was no further danger to the other guests, the initially high number of personnel involved was quickly reduced. The cause of the fire is still unclear.

Incident commander: S. Kafitz Fire department
vehicles: 9/3 Fire department
personnel: 25/21