Screws Spill on Highway Causes Traffic Chaos in Silivri
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- A truck carrying construction materials shed approximately 4 kilometers of screws onto the D-100 highway in Silivri, Turkey.
- The scattered screws caused damage to the tires of numerous vehicles, leading to significant traffic disruptions.
- Authorities identified and apprehended the truck driver, who was found to be operating an uninspected vehicle and faces charges related to property damage and endangering traffic safety.
A chaotic scene unfolded on the D-100 highway in Silivri, Istanbul, when a truck carrying construction materials inexplicably shed a massive quantity of screws over a roughly 4-kilometer stretch. This hazardous debris posed a serious threat to passing vehicles, puncturing the tires of many and bringing traffic to a standstill. The incident, which occurred around 9:00 AM, necessitated the closure of all lanes for approximately two hours as emergency services, including traffic police, highway maintenance crews, and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality teams, worked to clear the road.
The screws scattered on the road damaged the tires of many vehicles in motion.
During the cleanup operation, long queues of vehicles formed, with traffic being rerouted to a side road. The collaborative effort to remove the sharp metal objects involved traffic police, highway personnel, and local shopkeepers. Once the debris was cleared, traffic flow was gradually restored, albeit under controlled, single-lane conditions. The immediate priority for law enforcement was to identify the responsible party. Silivri District Police launched an investigation, which quickly led to the identification of the truck driver as Y.K., aged 33.
All lanes of the highway were closed to traffic for approximately 2 hours for the removal of screws.
Further investigation revealed that Y.K. was involved in bolt polishing in the Ortakรถy neighborhood of Silivri. Crucially, it was discovered that the vehicle he was operating lacked a valid inspection. Consequently, the truck was impounded, and Y.K. was taken into custody. He now faces legal proceedings on charges of 'property damage' and 'endangering traffic safety.' This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vehicle maintenance and the severe consequences that can arise from negligence on our roadways.
The truck and its driver were identified as a result of police investigations.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.