- Date of the incident: Wednesday, 04.02.2026
- Location: Jena Zentrum, area Saalstraße / Oberlauengasse
- Vehicles involved: White Mercedes Sprinter (delivery vehicle)
- Witnesses sought: Two mail carriers and a couple with a stroller
Jena. The Jena police are reaching out to the public with a specific appeal for witnesses to clarify a dangerous traffic situation in the city center. As the officers announced this Tuesday, the incident occurred at the beginning of the month, but investigations now require the assistance of the population.
Jump to the side prevented worse
Specifically, it concerns events on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. The scene of the incident was the heavily frequented area between Saalstraße and Oberlauengasse – in the middle of the Jena pedestrian zone.
Two young women were on foot there when, according to the police report, a white delivery vehicle suddenly approached them. The van is said to have been a Mercedes Sprinter. According to the report, the situation escalated to such an extent that the two pedestrians were only able to save themselves from a collision by quickly jumping to the side. They stated that they dodged the vehicle at the last moment to avoid being hit.
Specific witnesses in the focus of investigators
Traffic offenses in pedestrian zones are often difficult for the police to reconstruct when it is one person’s word against another’s. However, in the course of the investigations so far, it has become known that uninvolved third parties must have observed the incident. The police are now specifically looking for these individuals:
- Two mail carriers who were in the vicinity at the time of the event.
- A couple with a stroller who is also said to have seen the incident.
So far, it has not been possible for the officers to determine the identity of these important witnesses. Their statements could be crucial in order to legally assess the exact sequence of events and the driving behavior of the van driver.
Safety in the pedestrian zone
The area around Saalstraße is one of the main entrances to the Jena market square and is used daily by thousands of pedestrians. Although delivery traffic is permitted at certain times, the principle of mutual consideration always applies in pedestrian zones. Vehicles must move at walking speed here; pedestrians have priority and must not be endangered or obstructed.
Dangerous encounters between heavy delivery vehicles and pedestrians repeatedly cause discussions about safety in the city center. The police therefore take such reports very seriously in order to ensure the safety of more vulnerable road users.
Contact for information
The Jena Police Inspection asks the aforementioned witnesses – especially the mail carriers and the couple with the stroller – as well as all other persons who can provide information about the events on 04.02.2026, to contact them urgently. Any observation regarding the driving behavior of the white Sprinter may be relevant to the investigation.
Sources:
Original, Feed
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.