A severe head-on collision between a passenger car and a truck occurred Friday afternoon inside the Vågslidtunnel on the E 134 over Haukelifjell. The accident, reported at 13:46, resulted in critical injuries for two individuals and the total closure of the highway for several hours.
Emergency Response and Rescue
Emergency services faced significant delays due to a long emergency route to the site. The fire department arrived first at 14:10, followed by police at 14:41.
By 14:36, rescue teams successfully freed one person who had been trapped inside the passenger car. Both occupants of the car were described as critically injured.
Two air ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The passenger was flown directly to Haukeland, while the driver was transported by ambulance to Odda before being flown to Haukeland University Hospital.
Traffic Disruptions and Detours
The E 134 was completely shut down, causing a total standstill. Acting Department Director Rune Galteland of Statens vegvesen stated that the tunnel would likely not open until late evening or night.
Due to the lack of local detours, authorities recommended that travelers either postpone their trips or utilize alternative routes, including E 16 over Filefjell, national road 7 over Hardangervidda, or E 39 Sørlandske.
Investigation into the Collision
Operations leader Espen Reite of the Sør-Øst police district reported that the driver of the truck remained physically unharmed. Police have been interviewing witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events.
Preliminary indications suggest that the passenger car may have crossed into the oncoming lane. The Accident Group (UG) from Statens vegvesen was called to the scene to investigate the vehicles and the incident.
Road Reopening
Cleanup operations began shortly after 20:00. The road was partially opened at 21:00 with manual traffic direction and reduced accessibility.
Shortly thereafter, the operations leader confirmed that the road was open for normal traffic and emergency services had concluded their work at the site.
Further analysis of the vehicle wreckage may be conducted as the investigation continues to clarify the cause of the lane deviation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was injured in the accident?
Two people in the passenger car were critically injured; the truck driver was physically unharmed.
Why could drivers not use the old Haukelivegen as a detour?
The road was not plowed and was therefore impossible to use as a detour.
What is the suspected cause of the collision?
According to operations leader Espen Reite, it appears the passenger car entered the oncoming lane.
Do you believe winter road maintenance should prioritize secondary detours to prevent total traffic shutdowns during accidents?
