Eisenberg/Jena. A brief moment of fatigue led to a traffic accident in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis on Tuesday afternoon, once again illustrating the dangers of tiredness at the wheel. As the Landespolizeiinspektion Jena announced on Wednesday morning, the incident occurred in Mühlenstraße in Eisenberg.
Briefly & Concisely: The Facts
- Location: Eisenberg, Mühlenstraße (outbound)
- Time: Tuesday afternoon, February 17, 2026
- Involved: 52-year-old female driver
- Cause: Microsleep
- Consequences: Collision with lamp post, post overturned, vehicle towed, investigation initiated
The course of the accident in Mühlenstraße
According to current police findings, the 52-year-old woman was driving on Mühlenstraße in an outbound direction. Suddenly, she lost control of her vehicle. According to the officers, the cause was so-called microsleep. The physical reaction was immediate: the car veered off the road to the left and steered directly toward the street lighting there.
The force of the impact was so strong that the affected street lamp could not withstand the collision and fell over. This necessitated further measures: to rule out danger from exposed power lines or further electrical damage, the responsible energy provider had to be alerted. Technicians professionally disconnected the damaged system. The accident perpetrator’s vehicle was also so heavily damaged that it was no longer drivable and had to be recovered by a towing service. No final estimates are currently available regarding the exact amount of property damage – both to the car and the municipal infrastructure.
Danger of microsleep: An underestimated risk
The incident in Eisenberg is exemplary of one of the most common but often underestimated causes of accidents in road traffic. Experts repeatedly warn that fatigue at the wheel can have similar effects on driving ability as alcohol consumption. Anyone who closes their eyes for five seconds at a speed of 50 km/h travels almost 70 meters in “blind flight.” In this distance, a vehicle can, as in the current case, drift out of its lane, enter oncoming traffic, or collide with obstacles.
In this context, the police point out that over-fatigue must not be taken lightly. Initial signs such as frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, or shivering should be taken seriously. The only effective countermeasure is an immediate break, movement in the fresh air, or a short “power nap” of a maximum of 20 minutes. Opening the window or loud music, on the other hand, usually only help in the short term and simulate a false state of alertness.
Legal consequences for the driver
In addition to the shock and property damage, the 52-year-old driver must now also face legal consequences. The police have initiated an investigation to clarify the exact course of the accident. An accident resulting from microsleep is often legally classified as endangering road traffic according to § 315c StGB. This can result in heavy fines and, in the worst case, the withdrawal of the driver’s license, as anyone who drives while overtired is considered “unfit to drive motor vehicles.”
The Landespolizeiinspektion Jena asks all road users to pay particular attention to their own body’s signals, especially during longer journeys or at typical fatigue times in the afternoon.
We wish everyone involved a speedy recovery from the shock and a safe and alert journey at all times.
Sources:
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Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.