Latvia's Via Baltica corridor under scrutiny after serious truck‑light vehicle crash

On 31 July 2026 a heavy front‑line collision occurred on the P89 highway near Vecumnieki, Latvia, involving a truck and a light passenger car. Witnesses said the light vehicle ended up in a ditch while the truck remained on the roadway. No further details about injuries or casualties were released.

The Latvian Transport Ministry, citing a series of serious accidents on the international Via Baltica route, is preparing a request for derogations from EU TEN‑T requirements. The ministry notes that meeting the safety, capacity and quality standards set for the corridor by the end of 2030 is challenging due to funding and implementation timelines. Priority work is focused on the busiest sections, including the launch of a public‑private partnership procurement for the Bauska bypass, and ongoing work by the state road agency (LVC).