23.02.2026 08:05
It was claimed that the chain traffic accident in Sakarya, involving 16 vehicles and resulting in a total of 13 injuries, 4 of which were serious, was caused by tires set on fire under a bridge. Truck driver Mehmet Ali Mutlu, who was involved in the chain accident, said, "While we were driving, a vehicle had its hazard lights on, so we stopped. The vehicles in the middle lane started to move forward, and smoke appeared. When I headed towards the middle lane, there was a collision."
The details of the accident on the Anadolu Highway's Sakarya passage, in which 16 vehicles were involved and a total of 13 people were injured, 4 of them seriously, have emerged.
"BURNED TIRES UNDER THE BRIDGE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT"
According to claims, in the accident that occurred in the Alancuma area of Erenler district on the highway towards Ankara, the thick black smoke rising from the burned tires under the bridge spread over the highway, significantly reducing visibility. Drivers heading towards Ankara had difficulty seeing ahead due to the smoke.
16 VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT
A total of 16 vehicles, including passenger buses, minibuses, and cars, were involved in the chain reaction accident. As visibility suddenly decreased, some drivers slammed on their brakes. As vehicles coming from behind could not stop, a series of collisions occurred. Long vehicle queues formed on the highway, and many health, fire, and gendarmerie teams were dispatched to the scene upon notification.
13 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, 4 IN SERIOUS CONDITION
The 13 people injured in the accident were taken to nearby hospitals after the initial intervention by health teams at the scene. It was learned that 4 of the injured were in serious condition. Due to the accident, traffic on the Anadolu Highway towards Ankara was controlled for a while. The accident scene was also captured from the air.
ANKARA DIRECTION CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
Due to the accident, the Ankara direction of the Anadolu Highway was closed to traffic. Traffic teams are directing drivers heading towards Ankara to alternative routes. The teams continue their work to remove vehicles and clean the area.
"THE INCOMING HIT, THE OUTGOING HIT"
The vehicles involved in the accident were towed to a rest area about 1 kilometer ahead of the scene. After the final checks made by the teams here, some vehicles were taken to the parking lot, while the driver of the truck with license plate 42 ADS 921, Mehmet Ali Mutlu, described the tragedy he experienced. Mutlu, who was carrying food items in his truck and was on his way to Düzce, stated that he would take a break at the facility, saying, "While I was driving, a vehicle had its hazard lights on, so we stopped. The vehicles in the middle lane started to move forward, and smoke appeared. When I turned towards the middle lane, the incoming hit, the outgoing hit. First, the bus hit from behind, and then the other vehicles hit. I didn't hit anyone. There were food items in the truck, and I was going to Düzce. I was going to take a break at the facility and lie down, but I couldn't."