Tragic accident between Frankenberg and Somplar: two women dead

Tragic accident between Frankenberg and Somplar: two women dead

A serious traffic accident shook the region between Frankenberg and Somplar on Friday, July 18th. At around 5:45 p.m. there was a head-on collision between two cars in a long curve on the state road, about 2.5 kilometers towards Frankenberg. Two women from the Hochsauerland district, a 28-year-old driver from Winterberg and her 27-year-old passenger from Medebach, lost their lives.

The two women were trapped in their vehicle and, according to initial information, died at the scene of the accident. The impact was so violent that the vehicles were thrown down an embankment and landed in the forest. There were four people from Dortmund between the ages of 22 and 39 in the second car. Fortunately, three of them were only slightly injured, but one person suffered more serious injuries. The fire brigade, police and rescue services were deployed extensively as rescuing the two deceased women was extremely difficult due to the position of the larger vehicle on top of their small car.

Consequences of the accident

The state road remained completely closed in both directions until the night in order to be able to carry out the accident investigation and rescue work. The police estimated the property damage at around 60,000 euros. An expert was on site to investigate the exact circumstances of the accident, as accidents with often dramatic consequences are recorded every year in Germany. According to statistics from the Federal Statistical Office, around 2.69 million traffic accidents were registered in 2022 alone, which represents an increase of almost 2% compared to the previous year. Every accident not only causes material damage, but also injuries and tragic loss of life.

In recent years in particular, aggressive driving behavior and distraction caused by smartphones have come into focus as reasons for the increasing number of accidents. While there were around 5,100 traffic deaths in 2011, the number fell to a historic low of 2,562 in 2021, which is the lowest level in over 60 years. Despite this positive development, the numbers rose again to 2,782 traffic deaths in 2022.

A look at the causes of accidents

The causes of traffic accidents are diverse and unfortunately often self-inflicted. Over 88% of accidents are due to incorrect driving behavior. This is also proven by the statistics that examine the breakdown into general causes, vehicle-related problems and pedestrian misbehavior. While most accidents occur within built-up areas, 25% occur on country and county roads. The most dangerous roads are often outside cities, where most fatal accidents occur.

These tragic incidents show us how important it is to be alert and responsible on the road. We must work together to improve road safety and prevent such accidents in the future. Because behind every number there is a person, a story that too often ends before it has really begun. Further information on official accident statistics is available dangerous places.de.