Three siblings killed, parents critically injured in Istanbul highway crash

A family was devastated by a horrific traffic accident on the North Marmara Highway in Istanbul on Sunday afternoon. Three siblings, Yusuf İçen, Mehmet Ali İçen, and Ecrin İçen, lost their lives in the crash. Their parents, Sözdar İçen and Yasin İçen, sustained critical injuries and were rushed to Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital.

The accident occurred around 12:45 p.m. when a transport truck driven by Emrullah A. collided with a light commercial vehicle. The impact caused the smaller vehicle to swerve, injuring all eight occupants. Emergency crews, including firefighters, gendarmerie, and medical teams, were dispatched to the scene following reports from bystanders.

Three other passengers in the commercial vehicle, Ruken K. (15), Hacer K. (23), and Şehmuz K. (26), were taken to Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital and Arnavutköy State Hospital for treatment after receiving initial care at the scene.

The truck driver, Emrullah A., was taken into custody. He reportedly told gendarmerie officers, "I didn't see it, I hit the brakes but couldn't stop." He has since been transferred to court following procedures.

The crash led to significant traffic disruptions, with several lanes of the highway closed and long queues forming. Gendarmerie secured the area while the vehicles were removed and work was completed. Traffic has since returned to normal. Investigations by the gendarmerie into the cause of the accident are continuing.