One person was killed and 14 injured in a serious New Year highway accident near Cologne in the western German state of North-Rhine Westfalia, dpa cited police as reporting Friday.

The accident took the life of a 51-year-old woman, left 11 others severely injured, and hindered traffic on the A4 highway for nine hours.

According to Cologne police, the accident occurred at about 7 pm (1800 GMT) when a 22-year-old lost control of his vehicle and crashed through a median barrier before coming to rest in the opposite lane.

Source: SPA