Wild chase on the A9: traffickers broke through barriers and rammed police cars

2023-10-16 11:10:00

At around 6:30 a.m. the Spering Tunnel on the A9 in the Kirchdorf an der Krems district was closed. The reason: a stationary vehicle in a tunnel niche. However, as it turned out, the car didn’t break down. In fact, several people who were dragged in the vehicle were leaving the tunnel on foot. Motorway police from Upper Austria immediately began pursuing the vehicle. The driver ignored all stop signs and fled on the motorway towards Styria.

Several roadblocks broken

The tractor vehicle drove off the A9 near Trieben and continued on Triebener Straße in the direction of Möderbrugg. Police patrols alerted via radio set up several roadblocks along the route, but the driver broke through all the barriers and hit a patrol vehicle with his car. Both vehicles were significantly damaged. Luckily no one was injured.

In addition to numerous police patrols from Upper Austria and Styria, a police helicopter and drones were also in use. The tractor vehicle was finally stopped in St. Johann am Tauern (Murtal district/Styria). There were still several people who had been dragged inside. They received medical attention. The two suspected smugglers tried to escape on foot. Police arrested the two men a short time later in the area and on a meadow. The investigation is currently still ongoing.