Northern Marmara highway accident kills 10, leaves dozens injured

The Northern Marmara Motorway in Sakarya witnessed a catastrophic accident involving seven vehicles, leading to a tragic loss of life and numerous injuries. Initial reports confirm that 10 are dead, while 54 were injured in the immediate aftermath of the collision. Recent updates have raised the injury toll to 59.

Governor of Sakarya, Yaşar Karadeniz, provided insights into the unfolding situation, stating that ongoing efforts were focused on clearing the vehicles and reopening the road. Preliminary investigations suggest the calamity began with a car colliding with a truck. Further, it is speculated that some fatalities occurred when other vehicles struck pedestrians who had exited their cars post-collision.

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced the launch of an official inquiry into this tragic incident, delegating the responsibility to three public prosecutors under the guidance of an acting chief public prosecutor.

In the wake of the accident, the motorway towards Istanbul, particularly near the Dağdibi area, has been rendered impassable. The crash scene, involving a mix of three buses and a truck among other vehicles, suggests a complex set of events leading to the pile-up.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca shed light on the medical emergency response. He confirmed that as of early morning, 59 individuals had been injured, including 8 in severe condition. Emergency services mobilized 30 ambulances to facilitate swift hospital transfers.

The minister expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and assured that all necessary medical interventions were underway to aid the recovery of those injured.

This incident has once again raised concerns about road safety on Turkey's highways, prompting calls for stringent measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.