BMW evades police verification in Essen, subsequently collides on A40 highway in Duisburg.
High-Speed Pursuit on the A40 Ends in Collision and Arrests
A high-speed chase on the A40 towards Venlo came to an abrupt end early this morning, resulting in a collision, multiple arrests, and an impounded vehicle.
The incident began at around 2:20 AM when a BMW, which was not registered and not displaying legitimate license plates, was stopped for a routine traffic check at the intersection of Schederhofstraße/Friedrichstraße. The driver, a 21-year-old man from Bochum, did not possess a valid driver's license and attempted to flee the scene.
The driver sped off towards the A40, prompting a pursuit by the police. The chase ended near Homberg on the A40 between the exits Homberg and Rheinhausen, where the BMW spun out and collided with the guardrail.
The driver was arrested at the scene, while two other occupants, aged 18 and 19, managed to flee. The 18-year-old was apprehended at gunpoint during the chase, and the 19-year-old was captured shortly after a brief pursuit. All three men sustained slight injuries in the accident.
Inside the impounded BMW, police discovered stolen license plates, an e-scooter, and burglary tools. A blood sample was taken from the 21-year-old driver, and it is believed that the incident may be related to an ongoing investigation into illegal racing.
The opposite lane on the A40 was temporarily closed for guardrail repair and reopened at around 7:30 AM. The road remained closed in the direction of Venlo for accident investigation and road cleaning until 9 AM.
It is worth noting that the 21-year-old driver has an outstanding arrest warrant. The 18-year-old occupant was also arrested and is currently in police custody. The identity of the 21-year-old driver has not been made public, and the 19-year-old occupant's name has not been disclosed due to ongoing investigations.
Investigations are ongoing for endangerment of road traffic according to §315d StGB, which pertains to illegal racing. The police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact local authorities.
