Daijiworld Media Network - Ankara

Ankara, Dec 6: At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured on Saturday when a passenger bus ploughed into a stationary truck on a main highway in Turkey’s southeastern Osmaniye province, according to the semi-official Anadolu Agency.

The crash took place near the Bahçe district, after the truck had reportedly pulled over due to a flat tire. Authorities said the vehicle was stopped at the roadside when the bus rear-ended it with significant force.

The road was subsequently closed to traffic as emergency teams rushed to the scene. Rescue crews are currently working to remove the mangled vehicles and assist survivors. The truck driver has been taken into custody, Anadolu reported.

A separate statement from the Osmaniye governor’s office said efforts are underway to identify the victims, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Turkey’s Persistent Road Safety Crisis

The incident adds to a troubling pattern of deadly road accidents in Turkey.

• In July 2024, four people were killed and 33 injured when a passenger bus crashed into a mountainside in the central Sivas province.
• In October 2024, another bus overturned in Aksaray province, leaving seven dead and 33 injured.

According to the General Directorate of Security, Turkey recorded 2,713 road deaths in 2024, with Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir registering the highest number of accidents. Istanbul alone saw 97,354 incidents.

In 2023, the country reported 6,548 deaths and over 350,000 injuries, with speeding identified as the leading cause of fatal crashes.

Authorities in Osmaniye said the latest crash underscores the need for stricter road safety enforcement and better monitoring of long-distance passenger buses.