26.10.2026 10:30
In Bursa on August 21, security guards Yalçın Öz and Olgun Yıldız lost their lives in the car struck by the SUV driven by drunk driver Gülçin Yeni. The trial of Yeni, for whom up to 22.5 years in prison is sought for causing death by conscious negligence, has begun. At the hearing, Olgun Yıldız's 10-year-old son, who has epilepsy, burst into tears saying, 'What will I do without a father?' The court decided to continue the defendant's detention.
The trial has begun of drunk driver Gülçin Yeni (35), who caused the deaths of security guards Yalçın Öz (46) and Olgun Yıldız (47), who were in the car she hit while turning onto a side road with her jeep in BURSA. At the hearing, Olgun Yıldız's son E.Y. (10), who has epilepsy and addressed Yeni as “Sister Gülçin,” burst into tears, saying: “Before the accident, my father used to take me to school. He would pick me up after school every day. Now I go to my father's grave. I used to tell my father all my troubles. What will I do without a father? I am pressing charges against Sister Gülçin to the fullest.”
The accident occurred around 02:30 on August 21 on Ahıska Street in Çalı Neighborhood of Nilüfer district. The car with license plate 34 NVG 362, driven by Yalçın Öz, which was trying to turn onto Alaaddinbey Street, collided with the jeep with license plate 16 GY 114, driven by Gülçin Yeni, traveling on Ahıska Street. While the car skidded, the jeep also hit 2 parked vehicles. Upon notification, police, medical, and fire teams were dispatched to the area. In the check by medical personnel, it was determined that car driver Yalçın Öz and passenger Olgun Yıldız had lost their lives. Jeep driver Gülçin Yeni and her friend Yağmur Y. next to her were injured.
The funerals of Yalçın Öz, father of two, and Olgun Yıldız, father of one, were buried after autopsies at the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institute. It was reported that Öz and Yıldız worked as security guards at a factory and that the accident occurred while they were going to check another factory of the company they were affiliated with.
THOUGHT THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL HAD WORN OFF
It was learned that Gülçin Yeni, whose statement was taken after her treatment at the hospital, said: “I was also seriously injured in the accident. On the day of the incident, around 02:40, while I was driving my vehicle on Çalı Road, when I reached the traffic lights, a white car cut in front of me to turn left onto the side road. I pressed the brake to stop but couldn't stop. Then I found myself in the hospital. I am very sorry for the other side. The other side did not signal while turning left at the time of the accident. The traffic lights were flashing yellow for me. I had drunk alcohol 2 hours before the accident. I thought its effect had passed. I was conscious while driving. I am very sorry for the accident that occurred.”
After being discharged, Gülçin Yeni was referred to the courthouse and arrested on September 11. The investigation conducted by the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was completed and an indictment was prepared. In the indictment accepted by the Bursa 9th Heavy Penal Court, it was stated that Gülçin Yeni had a blood alcohol level of 1.09 promille, and imprisonment of 2 years 8 months to 22.5 years was requested for the offense of “causing death by conscious negligence.”
Security camera footage of the accident and mobile phone images taken at the scene were also included in the case file. In the footage, Yalçın Öz was seen colliding with Gülçin Yeni's jeep while making a turn in the car he was driving. In the mobile phone footage taken after the accident, the injured drunk driver was seen asking medical teams about the condition of the damage to her vehicle. In the footage, Yeni was also seen dealing with her mobile phone after the accident.
The trial of Gülçin Yeni began at the Bursa 9th Heavy Penal Court. In addition to the detained defendant Gülçin Yeni, Olgun Yıldız's wife Gülsüm Yıldız, his son E.Y., Yalçın Öz's wife Canan Öz, their daughters N.Ö. and R.R.Ö., the relatives of the deceased, and the parties' lawyers attended the hearing. Asked for her defense at the hearing, driver Gülçin Yeni said: “First of all, I am very sorry that I experienced this event. Because it was my birthday, my friend Yağmur Y. and I had gone to a vineyard house. Around 02:00, my ex-husband called and said my daughter had become ill. Thereupon, Yağmur and I set off. We had drunk alcohol at the vineyard house, but I was conscious. While going along the road, they suddenly came out in front of me. I braked but couldn't stop. I was going at a speed of 70-80 kilometers. The vehicle of the deceased persons suddenly pulled onto the road. I wouldn't have wanted it to be like this. I was also seriously injured due to the accident. I had surgery twice. My lungs collapsed. I request my release.”
After defendant Gülçin Yeni, the court panel gave the floor to Gülsüm Yıldız, wife of Olgun Yıldız, who died in the accident. Stating that her husband was working the night shift on the day of the accident, Yıldız said: “My husband died at the accident site. However, the defendant at the scene became concerned about her vehicle. In the records, the defendant was proceeding fast. I trust in the justice of the exalted court. I request that the defendant be punished.”
WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT A FATHER?
After Gülsüm Yıldız, her son E.Y. was given the floor. E.Y., saying that he and his father had a very good relationship, said, “My father used to take me to school. He would pick me up after school every day. I used to tell my father all my troubles. Now I go to my father's grave. What will I do without a father? I am pressing charges to the fullest,” and shed tears.
After E.Y., the presiding judge this time gave the floor to Yalçın Öz's wife, Canan Öz. Reminding that her husband and the deceased Olgun Yıldız were working at the time of the accident, Öz said: “The defendant was enjoying herself as she pleased. But ours were working. I am a driver too. The defendant claims she was going at 70-80 kilometers per hour; could she drag our people's vehicle that far at that speed? My husband is very precious. He was a person devoted to his work. Who will I ask now? The fire burns where it falls. I trust in justice. I am pressing charges to the fullest.”
After Canan Öz, her daughters N.Ö. and R.R.Ö. also stated that they were pressing charges. The court panel, also listening to the complainants, heard Gülçin Yeni's friend Yağmur Y., who was injured in the accident, as a witness. Yağmur Y., stating that they had gone to a vineyard house in Çalı Neighborhood because of Gülçin Yeni's birthday, said: “We drank alcohol while having fun there. Gülçin's ex-husband called and stated that their daughter had become ill. Thereupon, Gülçin and I set off. While proceeding on the road, a vehicle came out in front of us from the side road. Gülçin braked but the accident happened. Our speed was between 70-80 kilometers.”
I WAS THE ONE ASKING ABOUT THE VEHICLE'S CONDITION
When asked about the footage in which Gülçin Yeni was said to ask about the condition of her vehicle after the accident, Yağmur Y. said: “That wasn't Gülçin, it was me. There I was asking about the accident, what had happened. Those voices belong to me. I was the one next to the medical team there. There was a yellow cloth under my head. In the dark it looked like yellow hair. That's why it was likened to Gülçin. I asked those words under the effect of shock.”
After hearing the parties' lawyers as well, the court panel requested a report from the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute on the determination of fault, determination of speed, and whether the speed and the alcohol detected in the defendant caused the accident, in line with the video minutes, records, crime scene investigation reports, and law enforcement reports regarding the occurrence of the accident, while deciding that the defendant's detention should continue.