The statement of the driver who hit former national basketball player İlkan Karaman has emerged.

Ilkan Karaman (34), a former national basketball player, was hit by a car driven by Emre Ali Önder (30), who was later re-arrested after his release, while trying to cross the road in the Datça district of Muğla, resulting in his death. Önder stated in his testimony to the prosecutor, "An accident occurred, and I am saddened by the extent of the interaction."

Ilkan Karaman, who lived in İzmir and played for many teams in the Basketball Super League for years, also played for the national team at one point, rented a house in the Datça district of Muğla. Karaman moved his belongings to Datça. On September 8 of last year, around 02:30, while trying to cross the road in front of a gas station, Karaman was hit by a car with the license plate 48 AIJ 713, driven by civil engineer Emre Ali Önder. Karaman, who was injured in the accident, could not be saved at Marmaris State Hospital, where he was taken. After the accident, Önder fled but was caught two hours later in front of Datça State Hospital. He was found to have a blood alcohol level of 1.19 promille during his examination and was taken into custody and arrested.

"I WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT"

In his statement to the prosecutor, Önder mentioned that he had consumed two beers with a high alcohol content at home and said, "I went out to traffic to get my mother's sleeping pills. When I arrived at the intersection in Reşadiye Neighborhood, I pressed the brake because I was going to pass through the traffic lights. As soon as I pressed the brake, the vehicle started to skid. Therefore, I hit the median and lost control of the steering wheel, crossing into the opposite lane. At that moment, I learned that a person, whom I did not know and later learned the name of, had lost their life at the scene. After the accident, citizens came to the scene and helped us. I went to Datça State Hospital because I was injured. My intention was not to flee the scene. While I was in the hospital, police teams came and arrested me. I was under the influence at the time of the accident. I am sorry for what happened," he said.

THE DRIVER WAS FOUND TO BE AT FAULT

Following the investigation by the Datça Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an indictment was prepared against Emre Ali Önder for the crime of 'causing death by conscious negligence,' with a request for a prison sentence of 2 to 9 years. The indictment stated that in the report prepared by the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Traffic Specialization Department, Önder was found to be primarily at fault due to his failure to exercise attention and care, while Karaman was found to have no fault.

FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ATTENTION AND CARE OBLIGATIONS

Considering that Önder was found to have a blood alcohol level of 1.19 promille approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes after the incident, it was understood that his alcohol level was higher at the time of the incident. He stated in his testimony that he consumed beer with a high alcohol content before going out to traffic, and it was expressed that he should have foreseen the resulting consequences. In this context, it was stated that the suspect acted with conscious negligence. When all the evidence and the entire file were evaluated together, it was noted that the suspect caused the accident by driving with a blood alcohol level higher than 1.19 promille and failing to comply with his attention and care obligations, resulting in the death of Ilkan Karaman.

AN ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED

Emre Ali Önder appeared before the judge for the first time on January 10 at the Datça Criminal Court of First Instance. Relatives and lawyers of Ilkan Karaman attended the hearing, where Önder expressed his regret for what had happened. The court, considering the time Önder had spent in prison, decided to release him under the condition of reporting to the police station twice a week and a travel ban. Following this, the Datça Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed the decision. An arrest warrant was issued for Önder by the Muğla 3rd High Criminal Court, which evaluated the appeal. Önder surrendered to the Muğla Courthouse. He was arrested by the court he was brought before. Önder stated that he repeated his previous defense, saying, "I am very sorry. I am in a bad psychological state. I do not think I deserve this. An accident occurred, and I am saddened by the extent of the interaction."