AKP Mayor Caught Driving at 1.99 Promille After Fleeing Gendarmerie, Causing Accident

Ankara, Turkey – A mayor affiliated with Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was discovered to be driving with a blood alcohol content of 1.99 promille after fleeing a gendarmerie stop and subsequently causing a traffic accident. The incident occurred on May 29 around 10:40 p.m. when highway gendarmerie attempted to stop a vehicle.

The driver, identified as Selahattin Yalçin, the mayor of Yaygın Belde in Muş province, failed to comply with the order and fled. A pursuit ensued, leading to Yalçin, who was driving a vehicle registered to the Yaygın Municipality, crashing into another car in Ankara's Etimesgut district. The vehicle he struck carried five occupants, while his official car had one. The collision resulted in two injuries, including a child, who were subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.

Following the accident, Yalçin refused to take an alcohol breathalyzer test at the scene. However, a blood test conducted at Etimesgut State Hospital revealed his blood alcohol level to be 1.99 promille. Despite the severe intoxication and the accident, Yalçin was detained and later released by the court under judicial control measures after his procedures were completed.

Adding a layer to the story, Yalçin had recently switched his party affiliation, resigning from the Saadet Party in April to join the AKP. The incident has drawn attention to the mayor's actions and his subsequent release.