05.02.2026 18:40
A first-grade student who lost his life after being run over by a service vehicle after school in Kocaeli was bid farewell to his final journey in his hometown Zonguldak, with tears. The grieving father, Fatih Tabakoğlu, struggled to stand while at the head of his child's coffin and while carrying the coffin.
Seven-year-old Elanur Tabakoğlu, who was hit by a service minibus after school in the Gebze district of Kocaeli, lost her life.
DIED IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL
The accident occurred yesterday in front of Bilgi Primary School in the Beylikbağı Cumhuriyet neighborhood of Gebze. Seven-year-old Elanur Tabakoğlu, who was trying to cross the road to get on the service that would take her home after school, was hit by a service minibus with the license plate 41 P 3597. After the accident, health teams who arrived at the scene determined that little Elanur, who was seriously injured, had died at the accident site.
"ANOTHER SERVICE VEHICLE RAN OVER HER WHILE SHE WAS RUNNING AFTER HER OWN SERVICE"
Speaking after the incident, Hasan Kuzucu, the headman of Basat village, said, "The child is in the first grade. The service that usually enters the schoolyard did not come that day. The child accidentally got into another car. When she realized the situation, she got out of the car and started running after her own service. At that moment, another service vehicle that was reversing ran over Elanur. The driver didn't leave her; he forgot about her a little far away from the school."
FATHER STRUGGLED TO STAND WHILE CARRYING THE COFFIN
After the autopsy procedures, little Elanur's body was brought to her hometown, Basat village in the Çaycuma district of Zonguldak. Cries rose during the funeral ceremony held at the Central Ulu Mosque in the village. The grieving father, Fatih Tabakoğlu, struggled to stand by his child's coffin while being consoled by relatives and villagers. After the funeral prayer performed following the noon prayer, little Elanur's body was buried in the family cemetery with prayers.
DRIVER IN CUSTODY
The driver of the service involved in the accident was taken into custody by the police, and it was reported that the judicial investigation initiated regarding the incident is ongoing.