27 September 1986 · Driving through

Lada crash at Chausseestraße

Two young East Berliners drove a Lada through the gate at Chausseestraße at 80 km/h but crashed into a barrier and were jailed for over four years.

Black-and-white photo of a wide empty street leading to a barrier, the Wall and control buildings at the Chausseestraße crossing, with apartment blocks behind.
The Chausseestraße border crossing seen from Wedding (West Berlin) in June 1972 Photo: Willy Pragher. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

At about 3:30 on 27 September 1986 two young East Berliners, aged 22 and 24, drove a Lada at the Chausseestraße crossing after a night at a disco, heavily drunk.

At about 80 km/h they broke through the entrance gate and a closed traffic barrier, but then hit a blocking element. The car was a write-off.

Two graffiti-covered Wall segments either side of an overgrown path.
Remains of the Wall at the former Chausseestraße crossing in November 2011 (since demolished) Photo: Christian Mentel. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Both were arrested. In December 1986 the Pankow district court sentenced them to more than four years in prison and ordered them to pay for the damaged barriers.

Sources

  1. Gescheiterte Flucht mit einem PKW Marke „Lada“ über den Grenzübergang Chausseestraße, 27. September 1986Chronik der Mauer

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