An unexpected obstacle on the highway and a sharp maneuver by another vehicle led to a serious accident near Dobele. One of the drivers was hospitalized, and the car parked on the side of the road turned into a pile of metal.
The accident occurred on Monday on the highway towards Riga. A heavily damaged Opel ended up in the ditch after the collision, while the Volkswagen involved in the accident had to be evacuated from the scene.
According to the Degpunktā program (https://tv3.lv/degpunkta/kamer-soferis-ar-ieslegtam-avarijas-gaismam-gul-neatlauta-vieta-peksns-manevrs-uz-sosejas-vina-auto-parvers-luznos/), the driver of the Opel stopped on the side of the road in a place where parking is prohibited. The car was with the hazard lights on, but a warning triangle was not set up.
It later turned out that the man had fallen asleep in the car.
The driver of the Volkswagen reported that he was returning after a 24-hour work shift and was heading to the next site. According to him, another car was moving in front of him, which suddenly swerved to avoid the stationary Opel at the last moment.
"I was driving at about 90–100 kilometers per hour. The car in front of me suddenly made a sharp maneuver to avoid it. When I saw the parked car, there was hardly any time to react. I braked and tried to avoid the collision," the driver said.
After the impact, the Opel was thrown back, and the car went into the ditch. The Volkswagen also sustained serious damage.
Other road users immediately came to the aid of the victims. Eyewitnesses checked the condition of both drivers and called emergency services.
The driver of the Volkswagen suffered from shock and minor bruises.
"My arms and elbow are bruised. Nothing serious. The second driver had it worse," he said after the accident.
The Opel driver was taken to the hospital in moderate condition.
This incident serves as yet another reminder of how dangerous stopping on a highway outside designated areas can be. Even with the hazard lights on, it does not always allow other drivers to notice the obstacle in time, especially if visibility is limited or another vehicle is approaching.
Preliminary data indicates that a combination of fatigue, stopping in a prohibited area, and a sudden maneuver on the road led to serious consequences.
