12.10.2026 17:09
In the accident in the Akhisar district of Manisa, where a tow truck hit a tour bus, killing 11 people and injuring 26, 76-year-old Süleyman Eryılmaz, who lost his wife and was himself injured, said that after the bus passed the Akhisar exit, it reversed, and at that time the tow truck coming from behind hit the bus.
At the Akhisar Toll Booths area of the Gebze-Orhangazi-İzmir Highway, in the accident that occurred, the tow truck with license plate 78 YD 559 under the control of H.K. collided with the tour bus with license plate 16 AED 124 driven by M.A. In the accident, 11 people lost their lives while 26 people were injured. Süleyman Eryılmaz, who lost his wife who was on the bus, was also taken under treatment as an injured person at Manisa Celal Bayar University Ayşe Hafsa Sultan Hospital.
"AKHISAR JUNCTION PASSED, WENT IN REVERSE"
Süleyman Eryılmaz, describing in his hospital room how the accident happened, said that they boarded the bus from Mustafakemalpaşa at 08:00 in the morning, and after having breakfast in Susurluk, they continued on their way. Eryılmaz stated that during the journey there was a driver change and that money was collected until the Akhisar junction.
Eryılmaz, describing that the bus made a reverse maneuver after passing the Akhisar junction, said, 'He was going to return to Akhisar, but he couldn't. Either he didn't know or he forgot. This time the relief driver stopped him. When he stopped him, he told him to reverse. He reversed. I don't know what happened in the meantime; the truck coming from behind probably hit us.'
HE LOST HIS WIFE IN THE ACCIDENT
Eryılmaz, explaining that he sat in seats 22-23 on the bus, near the rear door, said that his wife was on the window side. Stating that after the collision he did not remember exactly what happened on the bus, Eryılmaz said, 'When the bus tipped over, I don't know how it happened. In the meantime, my wife had passed away. They picked me up and brought me here to the hospital. That's as much as I know.'
After the accident, the tour bus driver M.A., the bus owner and relief driver M.Y., and the tow truck driver H.K. were taken into custody after their treatment at the hospital.