A devastating bus accident occurred in the early hours of August 9, 2024, near Ankara, Turkey, resulting in 11 deaths and 26 injuries. The bus, operated by Öz Ağrı Seç Turizm, was traveling from İzmir to Ağrı when it veered off the Ankara-Eskişehir highway and crashed into a bridge pillar in the Polatlı district.According to Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, the accident occurred around 5:00 AM local time. Preliminary investigations suggest that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, as there were no signs of braking at the scene. Eyewitness Murat Türkoğlu, who was driving behind the bus, reported, ‘The bus was going a bit too fast, and it started swerving about 3-4 kilometers before the crash. Then it hit the bridge.’ Emergency services, including firefighters and medical teams, were quickly dispatched to the scene. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance, and the road was closed to traffic as investigators began their work. Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that three prosecutors have been assigned to investigate the tragic accident.This incident has reignited concerns about road safety in Turkey, where bus accidents are unfortunately common. In May of this year, a similar accident resulted in 10 deaths and 40 injuries. The frequency of such incidents underscores the need for stricter safety measures and regulations in the country’s transportation sector.As the investigation continues, authorities are focusing on determining the exact cause of the crash and implementing measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the potentially devastating consequences of driver fatigue.
Key points
- A bus crash near Ankara, Turkey on August 9, 2024, resulted in 11 deaths and 26 injuries.
- Preliminary investigations suggest the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel.
- The incident has prompted an investigation and renewed concerns about road safety in Turkey.
Contradictions👾Initial reports varied on the number of casualties, with some sources reporting 9 deaths while others reported 11 deaths.
