Laasdorf/Jena, May 22, 2026 – A serious traffic accident occurred on the L1077 between Gernewitz and Laasdorf on Wednesday morning. A driver lost control of his vehicle on a rain-slicked road, which subsequently overturned.
- What: Single-vehicle accident with vehicle rollover
- When: Wednesday morning, May 20, 2026
- Where: L1077, connecting road between Gernewitz and Laasdorf
- Cause: Heavily worn tires (manufactured in 2015), inappropriate speed in rain
- Folgen: One injured driver, traffic disruptions due to crane recovery
Loss of control on rain-slicked road
The driver was traveling on the L1077 coming from the direction of Gernewitz when his car veered off the road to the left. The vehicle slid approximately 70 meters across the shoulder and then overturned. After receiving initial treatment on-site, the injured driver was transported to a hospital for further medical care.
Police identify significant tire defects
During the accident investigation, officers from the responsible police station documented serious technical defects on the vehicle involved. The rear tires had a significantly insufficient tread depth and dated back to 2015. One rear tire was almost completely bald.
Investigators assume that the combination of the poor condition of the tires, inappropriate speed, and the onset of rain led to the accident. A towing crane had to be used to recover the vehicle, which caused temporary disruptions for commuter traffic on the L1077.
Background: Accident risk due to aged tires
Police and inspection organizations in the Saale-Holzland-Kreis regularly point out the risks of defective tires. The legally required minimum tread depth in Germany is 1.6 millimeters. However, experts strongly recommend replacing summer tires at a tread depth of 3 millimeters to ensure safe water drainage in the rain.
Furthermore, the rubber compound ages over time and hardens, which massively deteriorates grip on wet roads. Regardless of the tread pattern, car tires should be replaced after six to eight years at the latest. The age can be easily read via the so-called DOT number on the tire sidewall.
The L1077 as a commuter route
The L1077 is an important eastern connection from Stadtroda via Gernewitz and Laasdorf towards Jena. It leads directly to the Jena-Zentrum junction of the Autobahn 4 and is used daily by thousands of commuters. When precipitation suddenly starts after dry periods, a greasy film often forms on heavily used routes, which, in combination with poor tires, can quickly lead to uncontrollable skidding.
Source:
Accident on L1077 near Jena: Car overturns due to worn tires
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.