German bus hits escaped camel in Riedering, Bavaria; animal unhurt, bus damaged

The collision

A local bus hit a camel on Saturday, 7 November, at about 8 a.m. in Riedering, a village in the Rosenheim district southeast of Munich. Police reported the incident on Sunday, 8 November. The camel was one of three animals that had got loose and were crossing the road through the village when the bus came along. The animal was not injured and was returned to its owner, a touring fairground operator.

Damage and the driver

The bus's windscreen shattered and one of its side mirrors was damaged, and police put the cost of the damage at about 500 euros. The 61-year-old bus driver was also unhurt, although the crash was a fright for him. Bayerischer Rundfunk identified the camel as Zafira and described its owner as a circus visiting Riedering, while other reports called it a touring fairground business.

How the animals got out

The three camels were kept in a meadow directly beside a road, enclosed by an electric fence. Police believe the fence was not properly closed, which allowed the animals to escape. According to Bayerischer Rundfunk, the animals jumped the state road at the moment the bus approached. Police have not reported any other injuries or damage from the incident.