A tragic accident occurred on the İslahiye-Hatay highway, where an empty cement tanker collided with a minibus at the Ağabey intersection. Following the accident report, a large number of ambulances were dispatched to the scene. The number of fatalities in the accident has risen to 9, with 11 people injured. The Governor of Gaziantep, Kemal Çeber, visited the injured at the İslahiye State Hospital after inspecting the scene and described the accident as a serious one that occurred approximately two hours ago.
Çeber emphasized that a comprehensive investigation is being conducted regarding the accident. He explained that the concrete mixer truck coming from Hatay lost control while driving in traffic, crossed to the opposite lane on a divided road, and collided with the shared taxi on its way to the village of Yeşilyurt. Unfortunately, 8 people, including 7 women and 1 man, as well as 2 students, lost their lives in the accident, while 11 other passengers were injured. Authorities such as the Chief Public Prosecutor and District Governor quickly informed Çeber about the incident, and all emergency response teams arrived at the scene promptly.
Amid the efforts of healthcare workers to transport the injured to hospitals by ambulances, Çeber stated that 2 of the injured are in critical condition and are likely to be transferred to Gaziantep once their condition stabilizes. The transportation of 4 other normal patients to Gaziantep has already been completed. A portion of the injured individuals are still at the scene, with some in stable condition. Administrative and legal investigations have begun regarding the incident, with the hope that such tragedies do not befall the country again.
While reiterating that there are currently no arrests related to the accident, Çeber noted that the truck driver, who sustained minor injuries, may face arrest once his treatment is completed. The Governor highlighted the ongoing examinations by experts, who are analyzing various factors such as the position of the vehicles, traces of skidding, and the speed of the vehicles. Initial impressions suggest that the concrete mixer truck was traveling at a considerable speed and lost control as a result. Additionally, further investigation will focus on factors such as road conditions and potential faults that may have contributed to the accident.
A survivor of the accident, Zeynep Gök, recounted the harrowing experience of being hit by the speeding truck while traveling home from school. Expressing how the impact caused the minibus to overturn multiple times, she mentioned the overcrowded seating in the vehicle. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced via social media that a thorough investigation has been initiated regarding the accident in İslahiye, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. The İslahiye Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a legal investigation into the incident and appointed 3 prosecutors to handle the case.
