Military Vehicles Involved in Multiple Traffic Incidents in Målselv and Bardu, Norway

Målselv/Bardu, Norway – A series of traffic incidents involving military vehicles occurred on Wednesday evening in the Målselv and Bardu areas of Troms county, Norway, causing significant disruption. Police reported multiple vehicles leaving the roadway, with the majority involving military transport.

Incident Details

The Troms police district responded to a series of calls beginning around 6:00 PM local time. Reports included:

• Approximately 6:00 PM: A lorry collided with a guardrail on a bridge one kilometer south of Furumoen in Bardu.
• Approximately 7:30 PM: A military vehicle blocked the road at Andsvatnet in Sørreisa.
• Approximately 7:45 PM: A military tanker carrying aviation fuel overturned on the E6 at Rustahøgda in Målselv. Authorities reported no fuel leakage.
• Simultaneously: A military truck obstructed traffic on the E6 at Setermoen.
• Approximately 8:00 PM: A civilian vehicle left the road on the E6 in Salangsdalen.

Challenges for Emergency Services

The Troms police district’s operations manager, Eirik Kileng, stated that emergency services were hampered by the sheer number of simultaneous incidents and limited capacity. In some cases, drivers were instructed to arrange their own towing services. Kileng expressed hope that military activity would decrease as the evening progressed, stating, “There has been a lot tonight. I hope they get to camp soon.”

Road Conditions

The road traffic center described the conditions as challenging, with a mix of wintery and slippery roads. Siv Sørdahl of the road traffic center noted that the varying conditions posed a particular risk to drivers unfamiliar with the region. Efforts were underway by the Swedish Road Administration and other agencies to restore traffic flow.

Location Information

Målselv is a municipality in Troms county, Norway, with Moen serving as its administrative center. Bardufoss is the main commercial center, encompassing the neighborhoods of Andselv, Andslimoen and Heggelia. Målselv borders Sweden to the east and is the largest municipality in Troms by area, covering 3,324.45 square kilometers. As of 2024, the population of Målselv is 6,714. Source

Bardu is a neighboring municipality to Målselv. Source