A fatal crash occurred early Friday morning, October 13, 2023, when a van loaded with 23 migrants accelerated to evade a police stop on the A94 highway near Mühldorf, east of Munich, Germany.
The resulting crash killed seven people, including a six-year-old child, and injured 16 others. According to reports, the police attempted to stop the overloaded van, but the driver chose to increase speed, reaching up to 180 kph (about 110 mph).
The driver then lost control while taking a turn, causing the van to overturn and ejecting several passengers. The passengers, identified as Syrian and Turkish citizens, suffered the most due to the van’s severe overcapacity. The vehicle, designed for only nine occupants, left most without the safety of seat belts.
The driver, a 24-year-old stateless man from Austria, is believed to have been involved in smuggling operations. He also sustained injuries from the accident and was detained by police at a hospital. Authorities have initiated investigations, treating the incident as a potential case of homicide among other charges. Such incidents highlight the dangers of migrant smuggling and the risks involved.
The A94, a recognized smuggling route, is approximately 31 miles from the border with Austria, which many migrants traverse en route to Germany. With the recent influx of migrants into Germany, these tragic incidents underscore the pressing concerns about border security and migrant safety.
Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria’s top security official, expressed his dismay at the smuggler’s recklessness, emphasizing the urgency of bolstering border controls. His party, as part of Germany’s main opposition bloc, has consistently advocated for tighter border restrictions to preemptively stop smugglers.
