Fatal highway crash claims three lives on Egnatia Odos near Yassıköy
A tragic road accident occurred on Monday afternoon on the Egnatia Odos highway between İskeçe (Xanthi) and Gümülcine (Komotini), near the Yassıköy (Iasmos) toll station. Under circumstances still under investigation, a truck collided with two passenger cars, sparking a fire that left three people dead.
According to initial reports, one of the cars either slowed down due to heavy traffic approaching the tolls or had stopped on the emergency lane when the truck crashed into it. The impact caused the vehicle to burst into flames.
Four people were inside the car. Three of them were burned to death, while a fourth passenger was seriously injured and rushed to Gümülcine (Komotini’s) Sismanoglio General Hospital. The truck driver was also hospitalized with severe injuries. Both may be transferred to Dedeğaç (Alexandroupolis) University Hospital if necessary.
The second car, carrying three passengers, was struck in the chain collision but its occupants escaped unharmed after managing to exit the vehicle in time.
Reports suggest that both cars had traveled from Epirus to Meriç (Evros) to attend a wedding and were returning when the tragedy struck.
The accident forced the closure of the Gümülcine (Komotini)-to- İskeçe (Xanthi) lane of Egnatia Odos. The fire from the vehicles spread to nearby farmland and forest areas before being contained by firefighters.
Strong forces of the Fire Service, police units, and EKAV ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene.
ERT
