02.06.2026 13:21
In the accident in Denizli, where a passenger bus belonging to Pamukkale Tourism crashed into barriers and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 8 people, including a baby, it has been determined that the company did not transmit Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) information to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Additionally, it was learned that the bus's inspection period was about to expire and the driver had previously received a penalty.
In Denizli, some striking findings have emerged regarding the catastrophic accident, described as a massacre, in which a passenger bus belonging to Pamukkale Tourism crashed into barriers and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 8 people, including a baby.
It was revealed that the company did not transmit the Vehicle Tracking System (ATS) data, which enables uninterrupted monitoring of the bus's location, speed, route, and status via GPS and cellular networks, to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. It was determined that the bus's inspection period was about to expire and it needed to undergo inspection after June 11.
MINISTRY PLACES COMPANY UNDER CLOSE SCRUTINY
In Denizli, a passenger bus belonging to Pamukkale Tourism company, driven by Mustafa Merdün (50), crashed into barriers on May 31, Sunday, near Tırkaz Mahallesi on the Denizli-Aydın Highway. The bus turned into a fireball due to the impact. In the accident, 8 people, including a baby, lost their lives, and 33 passengers were injured. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure placed the bus company under close scrutiny. Within the scope of studies conducted in Ankara, some striking findings regarding the company and driver involved in the accident were reached.
REGISTERED UNDER THE NAME OF "EMINE COMPANY"
It was recorded that the bus with license plate 45 BAH 834 is registered under the name of "EMINE company" within the scope of an authorization certificate issued to Pamukkale Ulaşım Seyahat ve Turizm Hizmetleri A.Ş. for conducting ticketed passenger transportation activities.
It was determined that the bus, with a transport capacity of 42 seats, had its inspection period about to expire and needed to undergo inspection after June 11.
ITS LAST TRIP APPEARS ON JUNE 30
Through the Transport Electronic Tracking and Inspection System (U-ETDS), the last scheduled trip made by the bus in question was reported to end on May 30, 2026, in İzmir/Bornova and Antalya/Alanya, with 45 passengers including boarding and alighting at intermediate stops.
It was revealed that the ATS data related to the vehicle was not transmitted by the company to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. ATS provides uninterrupted monitoring of the bus's location, speed, route, and status via GPS satellites and cellular networks.
Regarding the reason why the ATS data was not reported to the Ministry of Transport, industry sources told ANKA News Agency: "This system is important for safe and planned travel. Disabling or deactivating this system on buses is generally aimed at evading inspections or hiding rule violations. In this context, the failure to provide ATS data to the Ministry of Transport is a serious problem."
It was also stated that driver Mustafa Merdün had received penalties for intentional injury and certain acts contrary to the Tax Procedure Law.