A 21-year-old American driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, lost control of his BMW around 4:40 a.m. Sunday while approaching a traffic circle on his way to Mackenbach. He damaged landscaping and a traffic sign. (Westpfalz Police)
A U.S. soldier plowed through a traffic circle and totaled his BMW early Sunday near Mackenbach, according to local police.
The 21-year-old driver, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, lost control of his car around 4:40 a.m. while approaching the traffic circle. The car drove over the central island, briefly went airborne and landed on the other side of the landscaped divider, damaging two small trees and knocking down a traffic sign.
Of five vehicle occupants, one suffered slight injuries, according to Westpfalz police.
A breathalyzer test administered to the driver showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%, which is above the legal driving limit in Germany.
A U.S. military police patrol vehicle was the first to arrive at the scene and notified German police of the accident. The BMW was towed after sustaining damages estimated in the tens of thousands of euros.
The soldier is assiged to the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Baumholder, according to a spokesman with the 86th Airlift Wing.
Following the crash, the soldier was taken to the police station for further processing, including a blood test, and his driver’s license was confiscated.
May 6, 2024 18:13
