15.11.2026 13:41
In the Kemer district of Antalya, on September 11, 2025, after leaving a nightclub, the driver B.Y. first hit a motorcycle and did not stop, then hit Mehmet Erzik, who was preparing a market stall, causing his death; the driver had 1.69 promille of alcohol in his blood. The detained driver, who is being tried with a request for up to 25 years in prison, will have his case heard on November 17. The family’s lawyers claimed that the driver was going 130 kilometers per hour and that while fleeing he crawled under the market stalls.
Relatives and lawyers of Mehmet Erzik (51), who was struck by drunk driver B.Y. after B.Y. failed to stop following an accident he was involved in last year in Antalya's Kemer district and sped into the market, said they wanted the suspect to receive the necessary punishment. Erzik's brother Abdullah Erzik said, "We were trying to earn our living, but that day a drunk, intoxicated, reckless person hit my brother and murdered him."
The accident occurred at dawn on September 11, 2025, on Deniz Street in Kemer's Merkez Neighborhood. The jeep driven by B.Y., who had left a nightclub, hit the motorcycle coming from the opposite direction driven by F.I. F.I., who jumped off the motorcycle reflexively, escaped with minor injuries, while the motorcycle trapped under the jeep was dragged along. B.Y. quickly fled the scene and increased his speed when he saw the police checkpoint. About 650 meters past the checkpoint, the jeep hit Mehmet Erzik, who was preparing the market. In the check performed by the medical team that arrived at the scene, it was determined that Mehmet Erzik had died.
1.69 PROMILLE ALCOHOL FOUND IN HIS BLOOD
In the blood test taken 2 hours after the accident, driver B.Y., who did not take a breathalyzer test, was found to have 1.69 promille of alcohol. After police procedures, B.Y. was referred to the prosecutor's office and was arrested by the on-duty judge before whom he was brought. An indictment was filed at Antalya 4th High Criminal Court seeking up to 25 years in prison for B.Y. on the charge of 'homicide with possible intent.'
'INSTEAD OF STOPPING, HE INCREASED HIS SPEED EVEN MORE'
Before the hearing to be held on November 17, one of the lawyers for the victim's family, Nesibe Bahadır, said, "The detained person is being tried for 'homicide with possible intent.' In our view, this is a murder committed with direct intent. Immediately before the accident, this person, who had just left the nightclub, first hit a motorcycle. The motorcyclist escaped with minor injuries. Immediately afterward, instead of stopping, according to what the woman next to him in the car also said, due to the concern 'I'll lose my license,' he continued on his way at 120-130 km/h. He headed toward a street where a market is normally held and where passing is prohibited. He hit Mehmet Erzik, who was trying to earn his nightly bread, at 130 km/h, causing his death. Instead of stopping, he increased his speed even more; there are no skid marks at the scene. He was able to stop only by hitting the market's metal barriers. It is clear that he was going 130 km/h in a place with a 50 km/h speed limit. In addition, although the person said, 'I'm not drunk, I never drank,' the report clearly shows that there was 1.69 promille of alcohol in his blood. Together with the victim's family—the mother, the child studying at university, and the other child of high-school age—they are waiting for justice. We are fighting for this alongside the family."
Mehmet Erzik's family's other lawyer, Mazlum Kantarcı, noted that B.Y.'s vehicle, which was traveling at high speed, stopped by hitting the market posts, and said, "He is caught while getting out of the car and crawling away under the market stalls. Afterward, before the criminal judgeship of peace, he makes a defense like 'What about my damages?' It is striking that earlier he did not blow into the breathalyzer, did not give his identity information to the police, and, despite having 1.69 promille of alcohol in his blood test, insisted on claims such as 'I did not drink alcohol.' Later, during the investigation stage, he claimed that the brakes had failed. In line with the petitions we submitted, the vehicle was inspected. The report prepared stated that no problem was found in the brake system. During the prosecution stage, he made ridiculous statements such as 'I lost control.'"
'I WAS LEFT WITH TWO CHILDREN, MY LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN'
Mehmet Erzik's wife, Zeynep Erzik, who stated that justice must be served, said, "Everything is out in the open, yet I did not understand how this situation came about. Everything is on camera; everything is visible on MOBESE. I want him to serve his punishment. That is why we want justice to be served. I was left with two children; my life turned upside down."
Mehmet Erzik's brother Abdullah Erzik also said, "We were trying to earn our living, but that day a drunk, intoxicated, reckless person hit my brother and murdered him. We are doing everything we can in the legal process. Our belief that justice will be served is complete. I will never stop following the legal dimension of this incident; even if years pass, I will pursue it. This is our decision as a family. We want the person to receive the necessary punishment. This is our demand; we want justice."