Dachshund's 2km M1 dash halts peak-hour traffic between Gold Coast and Brisbane
Runaway sausage dog brings M1 motorway to standstill

A determined dachshund turned a major Queensland motorway into its personal racetrack on Tuesday morning, bringing peak-hour traffic to a standstill in a dramatic escape.

Chaos on the Commute

The incident unfolded around 8:15am on Tuesday on the M1 motorway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane. The small but speedy sausage dog was filmed darting between lanes, evading capture and causing significant concern among morning commuters.

Alarmed drivers, spotting the perilous situation, collectively slowed their vehicles to a crawl and activated their hazard lights in a protective effort. Footage from the scene shows one quick-thinking motorist leaping from their car in an attempt to grab the pup, but the elusive dog proved too fast.

A Team Effort to Save the Sausage

The canine's great escape was no short dash. According to one witness who spoke to 7NEWS, the dog led a chase for at least two kilometres down the busy highway. It ultimately took a coordinated rescue mission by six to eight people working together to finally wrangle the runaway.

The successful capture occurred a short time later near the Nerang turn-off, where the dachshund was safely secured. Thankfully, the adventurous pup was unharmed and taken to safety.

Minimal Traffic Impact Despite Drama

Remarkably, given the scale of the disruption and the safety measures taken by drivers, no major traffic delays were reported as a direct result of the incident. The swift actions of the concerned commuters and the eventual rescuers prevented a potentially tragic outcome and allowed traffic flow to normalise quickly once the dog was safe.

This event highlights the unpredictable nature of peak-hour travel and the community spirit that often emerges during roadside emergencies. The quick thinking of multiple strangers ensured this sausage dog's story had a happy ending.