Patrol car on the Autobahn (symbol image)
Photo: Julian Stratenschulte/ dpa
A twelve-year-old boy ran onto Autobahn 3 in Oberhausen to take photos of a rear-end collision and the rescue operation with his cell phone.
A police officer risked his life and went onto the roadway that was not yet closed and brought the boy to safety, the fire brigade said on Sunday evening.
About 600 meters before the Oberhausen junction, three cars drove into each other in the accident.
According to the information, one of the drivers was trapped, freed by the fire brigade with rescue equipment and then taken to a special clinic.
A child was also taken to a hospital in an ambulance, it said.
Taking photos of people killed or injured in traffic accidents can be severely punished in Germany.
The law threatens fines or imprisonment for up to two years.
Nevertheless, rescue workers are repeatedly hindered by onlookers.
In this case, however, the boy does not face any punishment, since he is not yet of criminal responsibility at the age of twelve.
According to WDR, the police officers will notify the child's parents.
wit/dpa