06.11.2025 22:07
In the Tekkeköy district of Samsun, the moments when a taxi driver maneuvered to avoid an accident after a pickup truck suddenly appeared in front of him were captured by the vehicle's interior camera. Taxi driver Tolga Erbay said, "It was a 3-second incident; it suddenly came out in front of us. I tried to steer my car to the right. Thank goodness we are alive."
A taxi driver in Tekkeköy, Samsun, narrowly escaped a collision with a pickup truck by maneuvering at the last moment. The incident was captured by the vehicle's interior camera, saving the lives of the taxi's passengers as well.
THE TAXI NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLISION WITH THE PICKUP TRUCK
A family of 12 expatriates, including one child and one pregnant woman, arrived in Samsun from Belgium on November 4 for a funeral. They went to a taxi stand to head to their home in the Çarşamba district after leaving a shopping center in the Canik district. The family set off in three taxis. While driving on the Samsun-Ordu road in Tekkeköy, a pickup truck came in front of the taxi driven by Tolga Erbay. Erbay managed to avoid a collision by maneuvering and pulling the handbrake. No one was injured in the taxi, which was thrown several meters. The pickup truck driver fled the scene. The moments were captured by the taxi's interior camera.
Upon receiving a complaint, the police initiated an investigation into the incident and identified the driver as K.Ş. The driver K.Ş. was fined by the Regional Traffic Branch for 'failing to comply with left turn rules' and 'endangering traffic safety.'
"IT WAS A 3-SECOND INCIDENT"
Speaking to DHA, taxi driver Tolga Erbay said, "There was a pregnant woman in the car, and they said they came for a funeral. At that moment, another car caught my attention. I was following the car behind me in the rearview mirror. While I was checking it in the rearview mirror, the woman suddenly said, 'Brother, brother,' so I immediately focused on the road. It was a 3-second incident; it suddenly came in front of us. I tried to steer my car to the right. I got very close to the barriers. I kept pulling and releasing the handbrake to maintain control. One hand was on the steering wheel. The driver behind me, Rüya, turned on his hazard lights to prevent a collision from behind," he said.
"THANK GOD WE ARE ALIVE"
Erbay, who stated that he has been actively driving for 26 years, said, "This is a very big, extremely significant incident. It seems easy to describe, but it is really difficult when experienced. The screams inside the car, of course, 80% of our survival is a reward given to us by my Lord. Let's say 20% is our experience. We had attached our left mirror to the body, and we changed it. There was a scratch somewhere on the car. Thank God we are alive. The happiest part is that we saved the family. I saved myself and my property. I have to support my family with this. It was a tough day, but in the end, it was a proud moment," he expressed.