After second fatal crash in three weeks, mayors demand action on dangerous North Zealand road

Two mayors in North Zealand are renewing calls for urgent safety measures after another serious collision occurred Tuesday on the Hillerød motorway extension, DR reports. The crash marks the second major incident on the same stretch in less than three weeks, with one prior accident claiming two lives.

The latest collision involved a van and a truck. The two occupants of the van were rushed to Rigshospitalet’s trauma center, while the truck driver was unharmed. The road is currently undergoing upgrades to motorway standards, including the addition of a physical central barrier, but mayors argue existing precautions are insufficient.

“We cannot accept that fatal accidents keep happening. Clearly, the current measures are not enough,” said Nicolai Bechfeldt (V), mayor of Furesø Municipality. He and Trine Egetved (V), mayor of Gribskov Municipality, previously urged the Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) in March to investigate safety on the route after a deadly crash killed two people.

Egetved acknowledged that motorway construction takes time but stressed that drivers must be protected in the interim. “We need to ensure people don’t get hurt on their way to work,” she said, adding that she would consult with fellow mayors about sending another formal request to the Road Directorate.

The agency has already lowered speed limits, installed warning signs, and increased speed enforcement during construction. However, it has not responded to the mayors’ March appeal. In a prior statement to DR, the Road Directorate said it would examine the cause of the March 27 fatal crash.

Since July 2024, the stretch has seen multiple deadly accidents, including a collision that killed a couple and another driver. DR is seeking further comment from the Road Directorate.