Yahoo News Scotland fan headed to Euro 2024 seriously injured in Germany crash after 'using wrong lane'
A Scotland fan has been left with a broken back after a 'head-on' car crash on the way to the Euros in Germany.
The crash happened after Gary Ellis and his four pals left Weeze Airport in a rental car, the Daily Record reports. The friends were heading to Dusseldorf after flying out from Edinburgh Airport to support their national team.
But their rental Citreon CS collided with an S-class Mercedes outside Weeze Airport just after midnight on Friday. Gary, from Dundee, is currently in hospital in Germany after being left with a broken back.
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The 23-year-old was a passenger in the Citreon. The 25-year-old driver of the car also suffered serious injuries and remains in hospital.
Police in Germany said the Scots had 'used the wrong lane' after their rental car was driven towards oncoming traffic when they left the airport. Gary's family have flown out to Germany to be by his bedside, with a fundraiser set up to pay towards his medical bills and his transport home. You can donate to the fundraiser for Gary here.
Close friend Graham Pert said 'his recovery may take some time'. The fundraiser said: "Gary was travelling to Germany to Watch Scotland with a group of mates when they were involved in a head on collision after landing in Germany.
"Gary's injuries have resulted in him having a broken back and currently in hospital in Germany where they are waiting to see what is the best way to treat him and for getting him back home. All funds will go to help take the stress off Gary's family and his girlfriend Kiera along with helping Gary on his recovery when he lands back on home land as recovery for him may take some time."
Responding to messages from kind-well wishers from his hospital bed, Gary said: "Thanks everyone for all the messages and Graham for setting this up for me and my family. Hopefully I will get back to Dundee soon."
Four ambulances were called to the scene in the early hours of Friday. Pictures showed suitcases and Scotland flags being pulled from the wreckage.
Men standing in kilts could be seen behind the vehicles. Three other Scots, all 23, who were passengers in the rental car suffered minor injuries.
The driver of the Mercedes, a 45-year-old German national, also suffered minor injuries. A German Police spokesperson told The Record: "On Friday, June 14 at 00.10am, a traffic accident occured on the airport ring in Weeze.
"A 25-year-old Scotsman was travelling with four other men from Scotland (aged 25, 23, 23 and 23 years old) in a rental car, a Citroen C3, after arriving at the airport to travel on to Dusseldorf. The five men were a group of friends who had traveled to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024.
"On the way from the terminal towards the exit, the man from Scotland drove in the lane for oncoming traffic. This resulted in a head-on collision with a Mercedes Benz S-Class driven by a 45-year-old man from Dusseldorf who was traveling towards the terminal.
"The driver of the Citroen and a 23-year-old passenger were seriously injured in the accident. The three other people in the Citroen and the driver of the Mercedes were slightly injured."
They added: "Based on the investigations as part of the accident report, it is suspected that the Scottish driver used the wrong lane due to the left-hand traffic in his home country."
"All of the people were taken to various hospitals in the region by the emergency services. The Citroen was seized to protect the property."
You can donate to the fundraiser for Gary here.
