Following a lorry crash on the federal road B96 at Miltzow in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, the Rügen access road was temporarily closed early on Friday morning. According to the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Police an articulated lorry travelling towards Stralsund left the road at around 3.45 am and came to a stop in a ditch. The 30-year-old Polish driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
A tank on the vehicle was damaged, causing diesel to leak. The fire brigade secured the crash site, sealed the leaking fluids and spread absorbent material. Specialist vehicles were called in to recover the lorry. During recovery and clearance work, the B96 had to be fully closed in sections and traffic was temporarily guided past the scene on a single lane. Traffic was diverted temporarily. The ADAC reported slow-moving traffic in the Rügen access road area in the early hours of the morning.
Police initially gave no details about the cause of the crash. There was no indication that other vehicles were involved as of that morning. Investigations into the precise cause of the crash and the extent of the damage are ongoing. Emergency crews were initially unable to say how much diesel had leaked; according to the authorities, there was no danger to the public. A specialist company took charge of cleaning the road to prevent further accidents.
The section of the B96 between Miltzow and the junction with the A20 motorway is a busy access route to the Hanseatic city of Stralsund and the island of Rügen. Traffic is regularly heavier there, especially during the morning rush hour and on travel days. Following similar incidents in the past, police and emergency services point out that even small quantities of leaked vehicle fluids can make the road surface very slippery, making closures or speed restrictions necessary at short notice.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Police asked road users to be patient and take extra care near the emergency response site. Depending on the progress of the recovery operation, there could be further brief traffic disruption during the day, they said that morning. Further information about the reopening of the Rügen access road was expected during the day.
Updated: 30 October 2026, morning
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).