Emergency services rushed to the E18 highway near Brakerøya in Drammen early this morning following a serious collision between two vehicles traveling in the same direction. The accident has created complete gridlock in the area with traffic at a standstill.
First responders arrived on scene around 6:05 AM to assess the situation. Recovery vehicles were dispatched to clear the wreckage. Officials confirmed the collision occurred at low speed, but one vehicle ended up sideways across the roadway. This completely blocked the northbound lanes toward Oslo.
The Norwegian Public Roads Administration subsequently closed the Drammen Bridge in the Oslo direction as a direct result of the incident. This vital transportation link normally carries thousands of commuters daily between Drammen and the capital region.
By 6:39 AM, authorities confirmed two individuals were involved in the crash, one in each vehicle. Medical personnel evaluated one person at the scene while the other required transport to a local hospital for further examination. Their current conditions remain undisclosed.
This accident highlights the vulnerability of Norway's major transportation corridors. The E18 serves as a critical artery connecting western Norway to Oslo, making any disruption immediately impactful. Morning commuters faced extensive delays during peak travel hours.
Norwegian highways like the E18 maintain generally excellent safety records, but single accidents can paralyze regional transportation networks. The country's emergency response systems are designed for rapid deployment, yet road closures of this magnitude inevitably create cascading delays throughout the system.
International readers should understand that Norwegian traffic incidents trigger coordinated responses from multiple agencies. The Public Roads Administration works alongside police and medical services to manage both emergency response and traffic flow restoration. Such coordination typically results in efficient incident resolution, though commuters should expect prolonged disruptions when major routes like the Drammen Bridge close.
Travelers in Norway should monitor official traffic alerts through the Vegvesen website or app during such incidents. Alternative routes often become congested quickly when primary highways experience closures. The economic impact of these transportation disruptions extends beyond individual commuters to affect commercial transport and logistics operations throughout the region.
As cleanup operations continue, motorists are advised to seek alternate routes or delay travel until authorities fully reopen the affected roadway sections. The incident serves as a reminder that even low-speed collisions can have disproportionate impacts on critical infrastructure.