Truck driver dies, 2 injured after brakes fail on Turkish highway
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A truck driver died and two people were injured in a severe accident on the Erzurum-Artvin highway in Turkey.
- The accident occurred when the truck's brakes failed on a downhill slope, causing the driver to jump out of the moving vehicle.
- The out-of-control truck then collided with a passenger car, leading to the injuries and the driver's death.
A truck driver died and two others were injured in a harrowing accident on the Erzurum-Artvin highway in Turkey's Uzundere district. The incident unfolded when the truck, driven by an Iranian national, experienced brake failure on a steep downhill section. Realizing he could not control the speeding vehicle, the driver made a desperate leap for his life from the moving truck. Passengers in an oncoming car faced sheer panic as the out-of-control truck hurtled towards them. To avoid a head-on collision, the car swerved sharply, crashing into roadside barriers and tumbling down a rocky embankment. The runaway truck eventually came to rest on its side in the middle of the road. Emergency services, including gendarmerie and medical teams, responded to the scene. Paramedics confirmed the truck driver's death. The two occupants of the car were taken to Uzundere State Hospital for treatment. Gendarmerie secured the area as an investigation into the fatal crash commenced.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.