KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — A Ramstein Air Base servicemember was killed Friday morning in a two-car crash near the village of Reichenbach-Steegen, after the airman’s Mazda burst into flames.

A second airman driving the second car escaped serious injury.

Air Force officials at Ramstein confirmed Friday afternoon that two airmen assigned to the base were involved in the accident. The identity of the airman is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

The accident happened at about 6:10 a.m., according to a Kaiserslautern police news release. The Mazda driver was on the L367 coming from Schwedelbach and attempted to turn left onto the L369 toward Mackenbach. In doing so, the driver failed to yield to the second car, a BMW, which had the right of way and was coming from Mackenbach toward Reichenbach-Steegen, the news release said.

The two cars collided and the Mazda skidded off the road into a ditch, catching fire and burning out, according to the release.

The BMW also started to burn, but the driver was able to escape the car, the release said. He was taken to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and later released. His car was totaled.

The L369 was closed between Mackenbach and Reichenbach-Steegen for about four hours Friday morning. The investigation into the accident is continuing.

news@stripes.com

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