Member States will lend their support to the Commission.

In an unexpected incident on the A61 near Mendig, a car with a horse trailer caught fire around 12:50 PM today. The 35-year-old female driver from the Freiburg area managed to steer her vehicle onto the shoulder, remove her infant from the back seat, and unhitch the trailer with the horse.

The fire, which is believed to have originated from a technical malfunction in the engine, caused the car to be completely destroyed. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and the horse was temporarily housed at a nearby stable.

The incident caused a significant backup on the A61, resulting in a 5 km long traffic jam. The Police Highway Station Mendig and the Pellenz fire department, along with Mendig highway maintenance, were present at the scene to manage the situation.

The Traffic Management Department Koblenz, located at Laacher-See-Str. 15 d56743 Mendig, can be contacted for further inquiries. Their telephone number is 02652-97950. The police are urging drivers to form rescue lanes even in heavy traffic to help prevent similar incidents from causing further disruptions.

The estimated property damage from the incident is in the high four-digit range. The police are still investigating the exact cause of the fire, and the name of the leader of the Traffic Management Department Koblenz was not specified in the search results.

We encourage all drivers to exercise caution on the roads and to be prepared for unexpected incidents. If you find yourself in a similar situation, remember to prioritise safety and call for help if necessary.