A wave of tragic traffic accidents swept across Europe on July 20, 2024, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries, underscoring the ongoing dangers of road travel.In Russia, a devastating multi-vehicle collision occurred on the M4 ‘Don’ federal highway in the Voronezh region. The accident involved two KamAZ trucks, a Skoda Octavia, a Gazelle, and a Renault minibus. The crash resulted in one fatality – a 52-year-old Gazelle driver – and nine injuries, including two teenagers. The accident occurred when a KamAZ truck driver crossed into oncoming traffic, triggering a chain reaction.In Poland, a bus carrying Ukrainian citizens crashed into a road maintenance truck on the A2 highway near Świebodzin at around 5:00 am. Nine people were hospitalized, with five in critical condition, including children aged 2, 3, 4, and 15.Germany saw multiple serious accidents. Near Rostock, a Mitsubishi car crashed into a tree on the B104 highway, severely injuring its two Russian occupants, aged 29 and 62. In Crailsheim, a 20-year-old motorcycle rider died after colliding with a car at a gas station.In Turkey, several incidents were reported. In Mardin, three people were injured when a car crashed into a rock. A more severe accident occurred on the Yozgat-Kayseri highway, where a collision between a light commercial vehicle and a car resulted in three fatalities. In another incident, a motorcycle and car collision on the D-140 highway claimed the life of 68-year-old Necdet Demir.These accidents have led to significant traffic disruptions, with some highways temporarily closed. Local authorities are conducting thorough investigations into the causes of these incidents, with factors such as loss of vehicle control and failure to yield right-of-way being cited in several cases.
Key points
- A series of severe traffic accidents occurred across Europe on July 20, 2024, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
- The accidents involved various types of vehicles, including trucks, buses, cars, and motorcycles.
- Children were among the victims in some of the accidents, particularly in the Polish bus crash.
- Authorities are investigating the causes of these incidents, with some attributed to loss of vehicle control.
