Hit-and-Runs, Stolen Cars and a Lamppost: One Wild Night in Wuppertal

Honestly, Wuppertal! You think it's going to be a quiet Saturday evening, and then things kick off with not one but several crashes. We're not talking about a few dents here – this was the kind of night that even made the patrol officers stop and take notice. Within just a few hours, there was a hit-and-run, a stolen car, and a lamppost that never stood a chance.

Stolen Car Meets Lamppost

Let's start in the city centre. The Bergische Universität Wuppertal is usually peaceful when the lecture halls are empty. But nearby, on the way to the Historical Concert Hall Wuppertal GmbH – a place where concert-goers in bow ties normally make an appearance – a bizarre incident unfolded early in the evening. A 55-year-old man was clearly under the influence, but that was the least of his problems. He got into a car that didn't belong to him. Stolen, the whole affair.

The man took off at speed, but the journey ended exactly as you'd expect: with a loud crash into a lamppost. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the car – which wasn't his – was written off, and he's now facing charges for theft and hit-and-run. I'm amazed he even got that far. But the night in our city had more in store.

Hit-and-Run at Sonnborner Ufer

While the 55-year-old was being held in custody, things were kicking off at Sonnborner Ufer. There was a crash there that was a very close call. A car slammed into a lamppost – but that's only half the story.

From what we hear, the driver had already been in quite a state beforehand. He'd done a hit-and-run after an initial accident, and then, while fleeing, came the second crash. Thankfully, no one involved was in any life-threatening danger, but the impact was massive. Anyone who does something like that either has nothing left to lose or is living in a complete fantasy world. Sonnborner Ufer was closed off for the recovery and investigation. Anyone who needed to go that way was seriously out of luck.

• What we know: A 55-year-old under the influence steals a car and ends up crashing into a lamppost (near the Uni/Concert Hall).
• What else we know: Another driver was involved in a one-man chase, crashed, fled, only to crash again shortly after at Sonnborner Ufer.
• Where it was disrupted: There were road closures around the CinemaxX Wuppertal and the Concert Hall, as well as in the Sonnborner Ufer area.

Just Another Typical Night in Wuppertal

I've lived here for over twenty years, and nights like this happen every so often. Normally, the Historical Concert Hall Wuppertal GmbH is a cultural hotspot, but unfortunately, this time it was the hotspot for a wild joyride. Just imagine it: after stealing the car, someone drives through the city, past the CinemaxX Wuppertal where people are just heading to the cinema, and then crashes into a post.

The local radio station crew were run off their feet keeping everyone informed. And the emergency services? They ended up dealing with two crash sites that were unrelated but somehow sent the same message: anyone who gets behind the wheel drunk, or thinks they can get away with a hit-and-run, must have a screw loose. It's a minor miracle that no one was killed in either incident.

Let's hope next week in Wuppertal is a bit quieter. But honestly? It's never boring here. And somewhere deep down, that's what we love about this city between the suspension railway and the hills. Even if I could do without headlines like this.