A 40-year-old driver fell asleep briefly at the wheel of Linnich in the Düren district and collided with a car in oncoming traffic.
The family of four in the oncoming car, including a one-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy, were slightly injured, a police spokesman said on Sunday.
The 40-year-old stated that he had been out and about since early morning on Friday and nodded off for a moment.
Linnich - He drove into the oncoming traffic lane.
The parties involved had "very good luck in the misfortune" in the violent clash on Friday, the police wrote.
The 40-year-old was uninjured.
For the man, the accident will, according to the information, "have severe criminal consequences".
Both cars were badly damaged in the collision.
dpa