On Wednesday morning in the Bavarian town of Roth, a dangerous accident occurred during tree trimming work. A truck equipped with a crane overturned and partially drove into the Pegnitz River. A man was in the crane's work basket and fell into the water along with the equipment. Firefighters from the local unit and from nearby Schwabach intervened to rescue him. The man was taken to a hospital in Nuremberg. The cause of the accident is not yet known, and the authorities are conducting an investigation. Traffic in the area of the incident has been blocked.

Truck Overturns into River

During tree work along the federal highway B2 in Roth, a truck with a crane tipped over and partially slid into the Pegnitz River. The vehicle was performing trimming work on the section between two bridges when the incident occurred.

Rescue of Operator from Water

The crane operator, who was in the work basket on the boom, fell into the river along with it. Firefighters from Roth and Schwabach had to use specialized equipment, including a pontoon and ladders, to extract the man from the cold water. The rescue operation was complicated due to the unstable position of the vehicle.

Condition of Victim and Investigation

The injured 46-year-old man was airlifted by rescue helicopter to the university hospital in Nuremberg. His condition was initially assessed as serious. Police are investigating the cause of the accident, checking, among other things, the technical condition of the vehicle and the terrain conditions.

Traffic Disruptions

The accident caused serious traffic disruptions. The federal highway B2 in Roth, which is an important traffic artery, was completely closed in both directions for the duration of the rescue operation and securing work. Drivers were forced to use detours.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, around 9:15 AM, a serious accident occurred during routine greenery maintenance work in the Bavarian town of Roth. A truck equipped with a cherry picker, commonly referred to as a truck with a crane, tipped over and partially drove into the Pegnitz River. The vehicle was performing tree trimming work along the federal highway B2, on the section between the Maximiliansbrücke bridge and the so-called Pfistersteg. Due to the tilt, the work basket containing a 46-year-old operator detached from the boom and fell into the river. The man was trapped in the cold water. The Pegnitz River, approximately 112 km long, is a left-bank tributary of the Regnitz and flows through Middle Franconia. Its waters are cold for most of the year, posing an additional hypothermia risk in case of accidents. Roth is a district town in Bavaria, known for its historic castle and located on an important transport route to Nuremberg. Rescue operations were immediately undertaken by firefighters from the local unit in Roth and a supporting unit from neighboring Schwabach. Rescuers had to use a boat and specialized equipment to reach the victim, whose position was complicated by the overturned vehicle and the river current. The man was pulled from the water about 45 minutes after the incident was reported. Numerous services were on site, including police, emergency medical services, and water rescue. Due to the severity of the situation and the need for rapid transport, he was airlifted by rescue helicopter to the university hospital in Nuremberg. His life was not in immediate danger, but he was admitted to the facility in a condition initially described as serious. The accident caused significant traffic disruptions. The federal highway B2, an important artery in the region, was completely closed to traffic in both directions. Police diverted traffic onto detours, causing difficulties not only in Roth but also in surrounding towns. The scene was thoroughly secured, and technical services began work to secure and later recover the overturned vehicle from the river. This process requires specialized equipment, such as cranes, to avoid further environmental damage, e.g., fuel leakage. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Bavarian police have launched an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the incident. Investigators are examining several possible scenarios, including operator error, technical failure of the lift or the truck, instability of the riverbank ground, and possible violation of safety procedures during work in such terrain. It is possible that the wet and marshy ground near the river played a key role. The results of the investigation will be significant not only for determining liability but also for updating safety guidelines for similar work in the future.

Mentioned People

  • Operator (46 years old) — The injured operator of the basket lift who fell into the Pegnitz River.