Bridge disaster in Seehausen: injured and investigation are running!

Bridge disaster in Seehausen: injured and investigation are running!

Seehausen, Deutschland - On June 20, 2025, the city of Seehausen was shaken by a dramatic incident when the local bridge collapsed and two people were injured. The incident overshadowed the celebrations to Corpus Christi and provided great concern among the residents. Thomas Wackerle from the Murnau police confirmed that the public prosecutor has now officially confiscated the bridge to examine the exact circumstances of the accident. An expert was commissioned to draw up an expert opinion on the declaration of causes. So far, current information on the last exam of the bridge is unclear, so that the investigation by the police and the public prosecutor should urgently bring clarity.

A focus is on responsibility for engineering buildings. According to the federal government's streets, the construction carriers, usually the municipalities, are responsible for the security of municipal bridges. The applicable legal bases arise from the respective road laws that the rules must be taken, which measures must be taken and who is responsible. Interestingly, a delegation of this responsibility is possible, nevertheless the original responsible person remains liable for security.

The relevance of DIN 1076

The DIN 1076 describes technical security standards for the examination of buildings, and courts accept these standards as "recognized rules of technology". Deviations from these standards would have to be demonstrated by the responsible bodies. Even if there is no legal compulsion to comply with this standard, the municipalities in fact have an obligation to meet the level of DIN 1076.

When awarding bridge tests, publicly advertised orders must contain exact descriptions of performance in order to avoid legal disputes. Bidders must demonstrate corresponding qualifications, especially as part of exams in accordance with DIN 1076. For lower offers, clients must request clarification to ensure that all applicable standards are observed.

liability and responsibility

Liability for damage caused by defects in the examination lies primarily with the construction load carrier, although the bridge test engineer can also be liable. If there are serious defects in the test report, the examiner must report them immediately and, if necessary, propose deeper exams. The supervisory obligations of the responsible authorities are also important; You must make sure that possibly commissioned external engineers are qualified and expert.

The dramatic events in Seehausen raise questions about safety and maintenance of bridges. The incidents illustrate the need for clear responsibilities and strict compliance with norms such as DIN 1076 in order to avoid search contributions in the future.

How the situation will develop remains to be seen. The residents and the city administration are now dependent on answers in order to restore trust in the safety of their infrastructure.