At a little before 11pm on Monday night, a 40-year-old Swiss man was driving a transport vehicle with the massive crane in tow when he took a turn and the crane came loose, crashing onto the motorway.
The 22-metre-long (72 feet) crane obstructed two lanes of traffic at a crossing in Breitscheid on Autobahn 3 in the direction of Oberhausen, Düsseldorf police said on Tuesday morning.
Police told The Local that the blockage caused traffic jams along the Autobahn on Tuesday between three and seven kilometres long.
Police added that the crane may not be fully removed until 12:30pm on Tuesday.
No one was injured in the incident, though police said a car had been damaged when the crane fell.
Police estimate the damage and disruption caused by the fallen crane could cost €100,000.
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