A passenger bus and a tow truck collided on the Gebze-Orhangazi-İzmir motorway near Akhisar in western Turkey, leaving 11 people dead and 27 injured. The crash occurred at approximately 11:11 a.m. on Sunday, according to the local governor’s office.
Fatal Motorway Collision Near Akhisar
The tour bus, bearing registration number 16 AED 124 and traveling from Bursa toward İzmir with a final destination of Pamukkale in Denizli, collided with the tow truck near the toll booths of Akhisar in Manisa Province, as reported by BTA. The route is a connection between Istanbul and İzmir. The incident took place in the area of the Akhisar junction, according to Anadolu Agency.
Emergency response crews, including numerous ambulances, fire trucks, police, gendarmerie, and teams from the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), were dispatched immediately to the scene following the incident, according to the regional governor’s office. Sources report the impact was so severe that multiple emergency teams were required immediately.
Injured Passengers Hospitalized Following Manisa Crash
All 27 injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, as stated by the Manisa governor’s office. Manisa Governor Vahdettin Özkan visited the crash site to inspect the rescue operations and coordinate the emergency response.
Governor Özkan confirmed that out of the 27 injured individuals, 16 sustained moderate injuries, nine suffered minor trauma, and one person remained in critical condition. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu both issued public condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. Minister Çiftçi stated that competent institutions are jointly monitoring the development of the case.
Ongoing Investigation into the Izmir Motorway Crash
The Republican Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact causes of the fatal collision, as reported by BTA. Authorities are examining the sequence of events on the Gebze-Orhangazi-İzmir motorway, where Turkish television channel NTV reported an unverified account that the tour bus may have reversed approximately 300 meters after missing a junction before being struck from behind by the heavy vehicle, though this detail lacks independent confirmation from investigators. According to these reports, the passengers who died were sitting in the rear of the bus where the impact was particularly heavy.
Rescue and investigative teams continue their work at the highway location under the direct supervision of the chief public prosecutor’s office, with official statements regarding the identities of the deceased expected once identification procedures are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Manisa Bus Accident
What time did the crash occur on the Gebze-Orhangazi-İzmir motorway?
Emergency services received the initial notification of the collision at 11:11 a.m. on Sunday, according to the regional governor’s office.
Where was the tour bus traveling to when the collision happened?
The vehicle was operating a tour route from Bursa toward İzmir with the intended final destination of Pamukkale in Denizli province.
How many emergency personnel and agencies responded to the incident?
Numerous ambulances, firefighters, police officers, gendarmerie units, and AFAD disaster management teams deployed to the Akhisar toll plaza area for a coordinated rescue effort, according to statements from Manisa Governor Vahdettin Özkan.
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