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This is the woman who was driving when Dražen Petrović died. Not long after, she found a new man.
🇭🇷 Croatia /Sports

This is the woman who was driving when Dražen Petrović died. Not long after, she found a new man.

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The article commemorates the 33rd anniversary of the tragic death of basketball legend Dražen Petrović.
  • Petrović died in a car accident on June 7, 1993, on a German highway.
  • The piece reflects on his illustrious career and the circumstances surrounding his fatal crash, mentioning his girlfriend Klara Szalantzy, who was driving.

This article marks the 33rd anniversary of the tragic death of basketball icon Dražen Petrović, who perished in a car accident on June 7, 1993. Often hailed as the 'Mozart of Basketball,' Petrović's untimely demise in a high-speed collision with a truck on a German autobahn sent shockwaves through the global sports community, leaving many in disbelief even today.

Petrović, who began his career at 15 with Šibenka and later played for Cibona, Real Madrid, and the NBA, left an indelible mark on the sport. His career highlights include winning two European championships with Cibona and reaching the NBA Finals with the Portland Trail Blazers. He was also selected for the All-NBA Third Team in the 1992-1993 season with the New Jersey Nets, shortly before his life was tragically cut short.

On that fateful night, Petrović was returning from Poland with his girlfriend, Klara Szalantzy, and her friend Hilal Ebedal. Szalantzy was driving the car that crashed into a truck. While Szalantzy survived the accident, the article notes her subsequent life, including her marriage to German footballer Oliver Bierhoff and the birth of their daughter. However, it also highlights a strained relationship with Petrović's family and Ebedal, with Petrović's mother, Biserka Petrović, reportedly calling Szalantzy a "monster" for her lack of contact after the accident.

She is a monster. She is not even in contact with Hilal. She did not visit her even when she was sick, although they are long-time friends and played basketball together from a young age.

— Biserka PetrovićDražen Petrović's mother, Biserka Petrović, speaks about Klara Szalantzy's lack of contact after the fatal accident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.