Hainchen/Schkölen, July 14, 2026 – Following a traffic accident on Monday afternoon on the country road between Hainchen and Schkölen, the police are urgently seeking witnesses. A 13-year-old child was struck by an overtaking trailer, after which the driver fled the scene without authorization.
- Location: Country road between Hainchen and Schkölen (Saale-Holzland-Kreis)
- Time: Monday, July 13, 2026, around 12:30 PM
- Involved: Two children on bicycles, white/light-colored van with trailer
- Injuries: One 13-year-old child (minor injuries)
- Offense: Leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run)
- Police Contact: Phone 0361 5743-56100 or via email at pi.saale-holzland@polizei.thueringen.de
Vehicle combination strikes bicycle while merging back
Two children were riding their bicycles on the country road towards Schkölen on Monday afternoon. Around 12:30 PM, a vehicle combination consisting of a light-colored van and a trailer approached from behind. While overtaking the cyclists, the driver apparently merged back to the right too early.
In the process, the trailer touched the bicycle of one of the two children. The 13-year-old victim lost control of their bike, fell onto the road, and sustained minor injuries.
Hit-and-run after collision: Police seeking witnesses
Instead of stopping immediately, providing first aid, and identifying themselves, the driver of the van continued driving towards Schkölen. The Jena State Police Inspection emphasizes the severity of the incident: the injured child was simply left at the scene. Officers are now investigating the unauthorized departure from the scene of an accident and are asking the public for assistance in identifying the fleeing vehicle and its driver.
Hit-and-run accidents pose a significant safety risk. Only recently, a similar case became known in the region, in which a hit-and-run with a blood alcohol level of 1.78 per mille was solved. In this current case, the police are also relying on information from attentive road users.
Vehicle description and call for witnesses
To clarify the incident, the police are requesting relevant information. They are looking for a vehicle combination with the following characteristics:
- Towing vehicle: White or very light-colored, closed van.
- Trailer: Also light-colored, equipped with a tarpaulin cover.
Did you witness the accident, can you provide information about the fleeing van or its driver, or did you see the vehicle combination in the area of Hainchen and Schkölen at the specified time? The Saale-Holzland police are accepting information by phone at 0361 5743-56100 or via email at pi.saale-holzland@polizei.thueringen.de. Alternatively, the Jena State Police Inspection is available at 03641 81-1503.
Source:
LPI-J: Child struck by trailer during overtaking maneuver – Police seeking witnesses
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.