The scene of the fatal accident between Weilerbach and Kaiserslautern-Siegelbach this morning (Westpfalz police)

A fatal traffic accident on state road L367 between Weilerbach and Kaiserslautern-Siegelbach early Wednesday has closed the road for several hours.

According to police, a truck driver heading toward Weilerbach crossed into oncoming traffic near a bridge shortly before 5 a.m. and collided with an oncoming car. The truck then broke through a guard rail and drove down an embankment, where it came to rest on its side.

The 38-year-old car driver was trapped in his vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 40-year-old truck driver had to be freed from the cab of his tractor-trailer and suffered minor injuries.

The emergency services and fire departments from the surrounding villages were called to the scene.

Police are investigating the crash. The road between Weilerbach and Siegelbach is expected to remain closed for several hours while the truck is recovered.