Accident on B 189: Fire chief criticizes onlookers during rescue operation!

Accident on B 189: Fire chief criticizes onlookers during rescue operation!

On August 12, 2025 at 1:55 p.m., the Seehausen fire department was alerted to a serious traffic accident on the B 189 between Seehausen and Osterburg. The incident occurred between the Drüsedau and Behrend exits. Three people were injured, two of them slightly and one seriously. A car ended up in a ditch while a slightly injured person had already gotten out of the car. Another person had also left the other vehicle that was parked on the side of the road. However, one seriously injured person was still in the car.

A paramedic provided first aid on site, while the B 189 was completely closed during the rescue efforts. The Seehausen fire department initiated the operation with four vehicles and 19 comrades. The rescue service arrived with three ambulances, an emergency vehicle and a rescue helicopter. The two slightly injured people were transported to the hospitals in Seehausen and Stendal. The seriously injured person was flown to a clinic by rescue helicopter.

Course of the accident and injuries

According to the police report, the accident occurred when a 58-year-old Mercedes driver stopped on the side of the road due to a technical defect. An 81-year-old Seat driver did not notice the stopped vehicle and drove off without braking. The Mercedes was pushed into the ditch while the Seat came to a stop in the oncoming lane. Those evacuated after the accident were the Mercedes driver and the Seat driver, both of whom were slightly injured. A 78-year-old passenger in the Mercedes, however, sustained serious injuries and was flown to a clinic by rescue helicopter. The vehicles suffered significant damage as a result of the impact and then had to be towed away.

In the midst of this dramatic situation, the head of the municipal fire department, Stefan Nüß, was critical of the behavior of the onlookers who approached the site. This is a problem that is becoming more and more common these days.

The phenomenon of the gawkers

The phenomenon of onlookers taking photos and videos of such accidents and often distributing them on the Internet is now alarming. Brigitta S. recently commented that gawkers often gain amazing attention by sharing their footage, making them "internet stars." Although staring at the television is not a punishable offense, there is clearly increasing curiosity about such content. Often there are not enough forces to detect and report all of the bystanders, which makes the situation more difficult for rescue workers.

Paramedics and police are increasingly having to set up mobile protective walls to keep out onlookers looking over the emergency services' shoulders. Brigitta S. has offered to volunteer to collect evidence for the police by photographing faces of onlookers to help protect the rights of accident victims. She emphasizes that this is only part of the necessary measures that need to be taken to get the problem under control.

The incident on the B 189 and the critical voices from the population make it clear that urgent measures must be taken to ensure the safety of both the accident victims and the rescue workers. While technology makes it possible to disseminate these images, society must learn to use them responsibly.