On June 17, 5 Russians were hospitalized after a tourist bus accident in Antalya. This was announced on the broadcast of Russia 24 TV channel by Vladimir Biryukov, Consul General-Undersecretary of the Consulate General of Russia in Antalya.
“The rest of the Russians on the bus were slightly injured, they received help, they flew to Russia yesterday as their vacation is over,” the consulate said.
They added that the lives of the victims were not in danger. Two Russian guides are among those injured in the traffic accident. He emphasized that they are in contact with the Consulate General, local authorities, hospital administrations, insurance agencies and representatives of tour operators.
The incident occurred on the Antalya-Alanya highway at around 17.00 local time (coinciding with Moscow time) on 17 June the previous day. The driver of a tourist bus on its way to the airport lost control and collided with a tow truck parked on the roadside before entering the gas station. As a result of the collision, the bus driver died at the scene, and there were 33 people in the cabin.
As the Turkish television channel TRT explained, one of the five injured Russians is in serious condition. While medical teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, the injured were taken to the nearest Manavgat district hospital. The uninjured Russians were taken to the airport by cars.
Other Turkish media reported that the bus driver lost control when he fell ill at the wheel.
The moment of the accident was reflected on traffic cameras. The footage shows how the bus exited its lane and crashed into a stationary tow truck at full speed. Judging by the images, the driver did not even try to slow down.
Some media reports that more people were injured in the accident. Komsomolskaya Pravda specifically writes about at least six victims. But the rest of the tourists refused to be hospitalized.
Gas station employee Sadık Duman said that a small fire broke out after the accident and he was able to extinguish it with his colleagues before the fire crews arrived.
TRT said, “We put out the fire, got the victims out of the bus.”