A tragic accident occurred on the Ankara-Niğde Highway in Babakonağı location when a passenger bus belonging to Metro Turizm, driven by Hannan S., heading from Kilis to Istanbul, veered off the road and overturned. Following the notification of the incident, a large number of gendarmerie, health, UMKE (National Medical Rescue Team), and fire brigade teams were dispatched to the scene. Reports indicated that 2 individuals lost their lives in the accident, while 34 others sustained injuries. The injured were promptly transported to hospitals for treatment.
Upon arriving at the scene and receiving information from officials, Aksaray Governor Mehmet Ali Kumbuzoğlu stated that the passenger bus traveling from Kilis to Istanbul overturned into the ravine at 02:55. He announced, “According to initial findings, we have 2 fatalities and 34 injuries, including 6 severe cases. The accident appears to have occurred due to the driver falling asleep. We have primarily transferred the injured individuals to Aksaray, as well as to Nevşehir and Kırşehir for medical treatment. May our deceased rest in peace and our injured passengers recover quickly.”
Subsequently, Governor Kumbuzoğlu visited the injured passengers at Aksaray Training and Research Hospital, inquiring about their health conditions. Elif Arık, one of the injured passengers, shared her experience of the accident, mentioning that she was traveling from Adana to Istanbul to visit her daughter. She described the moment of the crash, stating, “After the accident, silence fell, and I thought we had fallen into the sea. I asked those around me, ‘Did we fall into the sea?’ The bus turned over 4-5 times and broke into pieces. There are many injured individuals. Passengers sitting at the front of the bus claimed that the driver had fallen asleep.”
The survivors were left shocked and traumatized by the terrifying incident, with the memory of the bus overturning repeatedly playing in their minds. The silence that followed the accident only intensified their fear and confusion, as they struggled to comprehend the situation. Amidst the chaos and wreckage, the injured passengers were grateful for the prompt response of the rescue teams and the immediate medical assistance they received. The authorities worked diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of the victims, swiftly transporting them to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
As the investigation into the cause of the accident continued, authorities emphasized the importance of driver alertness and road safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The driver’s alleged drowsiness was identified as a contributing factor to the crash, shedding light on the critical need for vigilance and adherence to traffic regulations. In the aftermath of the devastating collision, families of the deceased mourned their loss, while prayers and well-wishes poured in for the injured passengers recovering in hospitals. The community came together in solidarity, offering support and comfort to those affected by the heartbreaking incident on the Ankara-Niğde Highway.
