Summary:
- A car crash in Bohmte, Germany, resulted in a vehicle becoming airborne and lodging into a barn roof, injuring multiple people, including a seven-year-old boy.
- The incident occurred around midday on July 20, as the car veered off a road, hit a parked car, and traveled through a garden, eventually crashing into the barn.
- Emergency services, including two rescue helicopters and 12 ambulances, responded swiftly, and a large crane was used to remove the vehicle from the roof.
- The seven-year-old boy and the car’s driver and his wife were seriously injured; three minors in the vehicle sustained minor injuries.
- Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the accident, examining factors such as road conditions, mechanical issues, and possible driver error.
- As of Sunday morning, no arrests or charges had been made, and the damaged barn remains sealed off as the investigation continues.
A car crash in the northwestern German town of Bohmte on Saturday led to a bizarre and serious accident in which a vehicle became airborne and lodged into the roof of a barn. Multiple people were injured, including a seven-year-old boy who was playing on a trampoline when the incident occurred.
According to local authorities, the accident unfolded around midday on July 20. A family car veered off a residential road under circumstances that are still under investigation. The vehicle initially collided with a parked car, then broke through a hedge and crossed into a neighboring garden, where it struck the child. From there, it traveled over uneven ground that caused it to lift off the earth and crash into the upper part of a barn roughly three meters above the ground.
Emergency services responded rapidly to what they described as an “exceptional” accident. Two rescue helicopters, 12 ambulances, and over 30 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to manage rescue operations and tend to the injured. A large crane was later deployed to remove the vehicle from the barn roof.
A police spokesperson confirmed that the seven-year-old boy was seriously injured and transported to a nearby hospital. The driver of the car, a 42-year-old man, and his wife were also seriously hurt. Three minors who were in the vehicle — the couple’s sons, aged 11 and 12, and a 13-year-old passenger — received comparatively minor injuries.
“The scene was chaotic and unlike anything most of us have seen,” said one firefighter, who noted that the car had to be stabilized on the barn roof before any rescue could proceed. “It’s extraordinarily rare for a car to become airborne in such a way, especially in a residential area.”
Authorities have opened a formal investigation into the incident. While no official cause has been announced, local police said they are examining several factors including the condition of the road, mechanical issues, and potential driver error. They also confirmed that playground equipment in the garden was destroyed in the impact.
As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been made and no charges filed. The barn, which sustained structural damage, remained cordoned off. Police say further updates will be provided once more is known about how the car came to travel the unusual trajectory that ended in its rooftop landing.
Background:
Here is how this event developed over time:
- July 20, 2025: A car in Bohmte, northwestern Germany, veered off the road, collided with a parked vehicle, and crashed through a hedge into a residential garden.
- July 20, 2025: The vehicle struck a 7-year-old boy playing on a trampoline in the garden.
- July 20, 2025: After hitting uneven ground, the car was launched into the air and landed in the roof of a neighboring barn, approximately three meters off the ground.
- July 20, 2025: The 7-year-old boy and the 42-year-old female passenger were seriously injured; the driver and three child passengers sustained minor injuries.
- July 20, 2025: Emergency services responded with dozens of firefighters, 12 ambulances, and two rescue helicopters.
- July 20, 2025: A crane was used to remove the vehicle from the barn roof after rescuers cut through the structure to access the car.
- July 21, 2025: Police confirmed an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash.