Wild chase near Hamburg Pensioner in motorhome rams into police - officer shoots at him

A 72-year-old man in a camper van gave police a chase in the Hamburg area. First he rammed two police cars, then an officer shot at his vehicle.

At around 2 a.m., a witness reported two accidents to the police in Neu Wulmstorf, southwest of Hamburg. A camper van had hit a parked car and a garbage bin and then simply drove on.

A short time later, a patrol car crew discovers the motorhome in question at the side of the road. But when the officers want to check the driver, the 72-year-old suddenly accelerates, reports "t-online".

Although the camper van does not reach high speeds, the situation quickly becomes dangerous: the camper van crosses into the oncoming lane several times on the Bundesstrasse 73. The police try to warn oncoming traffic with blue lights, sirens and flashing lights.

Escape across the highway

Shortly before the Jork exit, the senior brakes unexpectedly, engages reverse gear and rams into the police car behind him. A police officer suffers minor injuries in the collision. His colleague then draws his service weapon and fires at the camper van.

But the pensioner continues his escape undeterred, even though his vehicle now has a flat tire and a bullet hole. A little later, he rams another police vehicle with a jerky steering movement.

After this second collision, the 72-year-old's escape is over. His motorhome, now smoking heavily, comes to a halt. The officers pull him out of the vehicle and arrest him.

The rammed police car has to be towed away and the two occupants suffer minor injuries. Why the pensioner fled remains unclear for the time being. The officers did not detect the smell of alcohol; a blood test should provide information about possible other substances. The police are investigating.

The editor wrote this article with the help of AI.