29.04.2025 16:53
In Beyoğlu, Istanbul, a 17-year-old driver without a license hit 59-year-old Abdulkerim Yavuz, who was sitting on the sidewalk, and fled the scene. Despite being taken to the hospital, Yavuz lost his life. The fleeing driver was caught by police and received a house arrest sentence, while Yavuz's family appealed the decision. The moment of the accident was captured by security cameras.
A 17-year-old unlicensed driver in a light commercial vehicle hit and fled from Abdulkerim Yavuz, who was sitting on the sidewalk in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. Yavuz lost his life in the accident, while the driver who fled the scene was detained by police teams. The horrific moment of the accident was captured by security cameras second by second, and the driver, Mustafa E., who was brought to court, was sentenced to house arrest.
STRUCK AN ELDERLY MAN SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK The accident occurred on March 31 at around 19:00 in the Hacıahmet neighborhood of Beyoğlu. According to the information obtained, Mustafa E. (17) saw an oncoming vehicle while driving his father's light commercial vehicle with the license plate 06 AER 753. The driver attempted to maneuver but ended up driving onto the sidewalk, hitting Abdulkerim Yavuz (59), who was sitting there at that moment. After the collision, driver Mustafa E. fled the scene, while Yavuz was severely injured. Upon the notification of those nearby, police and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. After the first intervention by the medical teams that arrived at the scene, Yavuz passed away while being transported to the hospital by ambulance.
HOUSE ARREST SENTENCE FOR THE UNLICENSED DRIVER Police teams determined that the vehicle belonging to the driver who fled the scene was registered to his father. After contacting the father, the teams later apprehended Mustafa E. and took him into custody. Following the procedures at the police station, the driver was referred to the courthouse for the crime of 'manslaughter by negligence.' Mustafa E. was placed under judicial control and sentenced to house arrest. The family, who found this decision unacceptable, appealed the ruling through their lawyer.
ACCIDENT MOMENT CAPTURED ON CAMERA The moment of the accident was recorded second by second by the security camera of a nearby business. The footage shows the out-of-control light commercial vehicle speeding towards Yavuz, who was sitting on the sidewalk, and then leaving the scene.
"THIS CHILD MUST BE ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY" Abdulkerim Yavuz's lawyer, Mervan Ceviz, made a statement regarding the incident: "On March 31, 2025, my client was sitting on the street where he resides when the unlicensed individual Mustafa E. recklessly hit him, causing his death. The driver fled the scene without checking on my client. Later, law enforcement checked the license plate on the camera and reached the vehicle's owner. The owner of the vehicle is Mustafa E.'s father. The police informed that his son was involved in such an incident and needed to be brought to the police station.
After a while, his father turned him in to law enforcement. He was then referred to the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office requested his arrest and referred him to the Peace Criminal Court. The Peace Criminal Court released Mustafa E. under judicial control, stating that he should not leave his residence as a penalty, which we consider a reward. We believe this is a legal absurdity. The Peace Criminal Court released him, citing that children involved in crimes would not be arrested unless the crime was of a serious nature, based on the Constitutional Court's decision. What could be more serious than the loss of a human life that you did not arrest this child?
This situation has created deep wounds in both my client and the public conscience. My client and his family are the victims. We believe that this child must be arrested immediately. We want justice to be served. Both we and the prosecutor's office have made our appeals, but the appeals were rejected. The indictment has been prepared, but the court date has not yet been determined."