On Oct 26, 2012, at 6.15 p.m. the "Eljo" allided with a bridge on the Salzgitter Canal near the Üfinger lock. TThe shi had unloaded coal in Beddingen and struck the bridge at Üfingen when passing underneath. The captain was severely injured and had to be freed from the debris of the wheelhouse by the fire rescue.
As the discharged into Beddingen ship under the canal bridge at Üfingen shot through, hang the cab stopped at the bridge and was completely destroyed.
While the skipper and his own was trapped and seriously injured.
The ship drifted rudderless more than 500 meters in the channel.
Only then did a member of the crew on the control panel under the deck to maneuver the disabled vessel to a bollard on the north shore.
There, the cargo ship named Dortmund was moored. When the fire brigade arrived a little later, she had a ladder on top.
Operations manager Olaf Rahnefeld reported that the injured man had to be supplied by the emergency services first, until the firemen with spreader and cutter managed to cut him from the wreckage.
The captain was taken to hospital after Lebenstedt.
During the collision with the bridge, one of the two cars parked on the deck fell into the water. Divers of the professional and the fire department searched for hours on the bottom of the canal to the vehicle.
For rescuing a ship crane was also requested.
After the divers had located the car on the ground, could be started against 21 clock to salvage.
The Salzgitter Canal, which flows into the Midland Canal was, since the collision of coal freighter locked with the bridge to the recovery of the car.
The bridge was on the evening of experts examined for damage. The demolished coal freighter should remain lying on the spot, said the pilot of the freighter. He will now be examined by experts. "Only then will decide if we can continue," said the mate. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, police said. The investigation is ongoing.