Jena, March 15, 2026 – A drunk driving incident ended prematurely for two men in Jena on Sunday night in the tram track bed. Police were able to apprehend the fleeing occupants near the stadium.
- What: Van gets stuck in tram tracks
- When: Sunday, 15.03.2026, around 02:00 AM
- Where: Stadtrodaer Straße (beginning, near the stadium)
- Suspects: Two men (25, 29), each over 1.5 per mille
- Consequences: Blood sample collection, vehicle recovery by crane
Attempted escape fails at the stadium
Around 2:00 AM on early Sunday morning, a police patrol noticed a Mercedes van that had become stuck on the tram tracks at the beginning of Stadtrodaer Straße. There was initially no sign of the occupants. As police reported, two individuals fled in the direction of the nearby stadium.
Officers immediately began a pursuit and were able to apprehend two men aged 25 and 29. During the search, police found the matching vehicle key on one of the two men.
Both men heavily intoxicated
Even during the initial contact, emergency services noticed a clear smell of alcohol on both suspects. A breathalyzer test confirmed the suspicion: both men had values of over 1.5 per mille. Since it could not be determined beyond doubt on-site who had steered the van into the track bed, the duty prosecutor ordered a blood sample for both individuals.
The stuck Mercedes van could not be freed under its own power. A towing service had to arrive with a special crane to lift the heavy vehicle off the tracks during the night.
Background: Stadtrodaer Straße and local public transport
Stadtrodaer Straße (B88) is one of the most important main arteries in Jena, connecting the city center with the populous south (such as Lobeda and Winzerla) as well as the A4 motorway. The parallel track systems of Jenaer Nahverkehr are operated at high frequency. Blockages in the track bed can cause widespread failures in the network. Driving on the track area is strictly prohibited for private traffic. If vehicles become stuck on tracks, recovery almost always requires the use of heavy specialized equipment due to the risk of damage to overhead lines and sleepers, which significantly extends the track closures.
Source:
Police News Jena, 15.03.26: Drunk driving into the track bed
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.