The investigation into the traffic accident that resulted in the death of student Elif Su Ekinci (11) and the severe injury of Elif Yüksel (11) when a panel van driven by Coşkun T. hit at a school crossing in Gökçebelen Mahallesi in Yenişehir district on May 23 is still ongoing by the Mersin Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to a report prepared by an expert committee appointed by the prosecutor’s office, the maximum speed limit at the location of the accident on 34th Street is 30 kilometers per hour. The area is marked with a sign indicating “pedestrian first” and designated as a “school crossing” with traffic signs and markings.
Based on witness statements, the traffic accident report, and on-site examinations, the report indicated that the accident occurred in broad daylight, on a flat and dry asphalt surface in the designated “school crossing” area where a panel van, passing by a bus stop, hit students Ekinci and Yüksel. The report stated that the pedestrians Ekinci and Yüksel had the right of way at the “school crossing,” and it was mandatory for the driver Coşkun T. to stop and give the right of way to pedestrians passing by.
The report also highlighted that Ekinci and Yüksel followed the rules properly and that the driver was expected to stop effectively to give them the right of way when they crossed the road. However, the driver failed to comply with this requirement. It was noted in the report that the driver was not paying attention to the road, failed to control the visibility, did not adjust the speed according to the conditions, and approached the school crossing without reducing speed, resulting in the accident.
The report concluded that the driver’s actions were in violation of the rules, and he was found to be primarily at fault for the accident. The pedestrians Ekinci and Yüksel did not exhibit any faults according to the local conditions, therefore, they were not blamed for the accident. The report also stated that the driver violated Article 74 of the Highway Traffic Law, which mandates drivers to slow down when approaching pedestrian or school crossings and give the right of way to pedestrians crossing or about to cross, making him the primary culprit.
Müşteki lawyer Halil Demir expressed that one student had lost their life in the accident and that the incident should be carefully investigated. He emphasized that the accident happening at a school crossing should be considered as “causing death by possible intent” and should be prosecuted accordingly to prevent any perception of impunity. In related news, the driver Coşkun T., who was detained in connection with the school crossing accident, has been arrested. The tragic incident occurred as the panel van driven by Coşkun T. hit the students as they were on their way home from Yenişehir Imam Hatip Middle School in Mersin’s Yenişehir district on May 23. The health teams dispatched to the scene determined that Ekinci had lost her life, and Yüksel had sustained severe injuries. The driver Coşkun T. was arrested for his involvement in the school crossing accident.
