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Tragic accident in Polatlı, Ankara! Bus crashes into bridge: 9 dead, 27 injured

A passenger bus crashed into a bridge pier in the Polatlı district of Ankara. In the tragic accident, 9 citizens lost their lives and 27 people were injured. Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that an investigation into the accident has been launched. Meanwhile, the final footage of the bus was captured by security cameras.

İHA

The Mercedes-brand passenger bus with license plate 04 AAV 951, belonging to the Öz Ağrı Seç Turizm company, which was traveling from İzmir to Ağrı and whose driver's identity has not yet been determined, veered off the road near Olukpınar village in the early hours of the morning and struck the bridge piers.

Fire crews arrived at the scene upon notification and rescued those trapped in the bus.

First images from the scene...

STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR OF ANKARA: 11 DEAD, 25 INJURED

Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin made a statement regarding the tragic accident. Governor Şahin reported that 11 people died and 25 people were injured in the accident.

HOW DID THE ACCIDENT OCCUR?

Stating that "it is estimated that the driver fell asleep," Şahin said that no brake marks were found on the road.

Speaking to NTV, Şahin stated that the health conditions of the injured are in good to moderate condition.

While announcing that the driver also lost his life, Şahin also noted that the bus was traveling from İzmir to Ağrı.

EYEWITNESSES SPOKE

Murat Türkoğlu, the driver of the car following the bus during the accident, stated that they were going to Polatlı and said, "We left Temelli together, we were already one behind the other. The bus was a bit fast, it started to swerve 3-4 kilometers before here, then it hit the bridge. Parts flying from the bus hit our vehicle. We flashed our lights and honked from behind, but he didn't hear."

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that an investigation has been launched into the accident.

Tunç included the following statements in his announcement:

"I wish God's mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives in the bus accident that occurred near the Polatlı district of Ankara, patience to their grieving families, and a speedy recovery to our injured citizens.

A judicial investigation has been initiated by the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the accident that has broken our hearts, and 3 Public Prosecutors have been assigned under the coordination of a Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor.

The investigation is being carried out meticulously."

STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH: DEATH TOLL IS 9

In the statement made by the Ministry of Health, it was stated that 9 people died and 26 people were injured in the accident.

In the first statement made regarding the accident, it was stated that 11 people had lost their lives.

The Ministry of Health's statement is as follows:

"In the bus accident that occurred in the Polatlı location of Ankara, 9 of our citizens have lost their lives and 26 of our citizens have been injured. The treatment of our injured continues in hospitals.

We wish God's mercy upon our citizens who lost their lives, condolences to their relatives, and a speedy recovery to the injured."

"5 OF THE INJURED ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION"

Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu announced that 36 citizens were affected by the accident and that 5 of the 27 injured in the hospital are in critical condition.

Memişoğlu's statement is as follows:

"A tragic traffic accident occurred in Ankara and 36 of our citizens were affected. Unfortunately, 9 of them have passed away, I wish God's mercy upon them. Our other 27 patients are in the hospital and 5 of them are in somewhat critical condition, their treatments are continuing."

FINAL FOOTAGE OF THE BUS EMERGES

The bus was captured by the security cameras of a gas station approximately 150 meters before the accident site.

It was seen that the bus was speeding.

MOMENT OF BUS DEPARTURE FROM AĞRI ON CAMERA

It was reported that the passenger bus with license plate 04 AAV 951, belonging to the Öz Ağrı Seç Turizm company, entered the bus terminal in the Doğubayazıt district at 09:35 yesterday and departed after picking up passengers a short while later.

The moments of the bus entering and leaving the Doğubayazıt Bus Terminal were captured by security cameras.