A73 motorway closed after beer crates spill near Ebersdorf

A heavy goods vehicle lost a significant portion of its cargo on the A73 motorway near the Ebersdorf junction in Coburg on a Wednesday afternoon. The semi-trailer, operated by a Kulmbach-based company, was transporting 1,270 crates of beer and mixed beverages, totaling 24 tons, en route from Kulmbach to Erfurt.

As the 44-year-old driver entered a right-hand curve on the slip road, the cargo shifted and pressed against the side tarp of the trailer. The pressure caused a three-meter tear in the tarp, resulting in approximately 150 beer crates falling onto the roadway and spreading across nearly 150 meters of the lane.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident. A road maintenance worker from Coburg happened to pass the scene moments later and immediately blocked the northbound lanes, preventing potential secondary accidents. The spill caused an estimated 10,000 euros in damages and required a multi-hour closure of the motorway for cleanup. Traffic police investigations into the incident indicated that the cargo was improperly secured.