11 Killed and 27 Injured After Tourist Bus Collides With Truck and Overturns in Turkey

A deadly highway crash in western Turkey has left at least 11 people dead and 27 others injured after a tourist bus collided with a truck carrying large wooden planks and overturned.

The accident happened on Sunday, October 11, 2026, near the Akhisar toll gates in Manisa province, along the Gebze-Orhangazi-Izmir highway.

According to local authorities, the bus was traveling from Bursa toward Izmir and was carrying 34 passengers and three crew members. The truck had one driver.

Emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters and medical teams, rushed to the scene. The injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Both drivers detained as investigation continues

Authorities confirmed that both drivers were detained during the investigation. The bus driver was reportedly taken into custody after being discharged from the hospital.

Initial reports indicated that the truck may have crossed into the opposite lane before the collision. However, investigators have not yet released a final determination of what caused the crash.

Manisa Governor Vahdettin Özkan visited the scene as emergency teams worked to respond to the disaster. Officials said the investigation was continuing under the coordination of the public prosecutor’s office.

Turkey’s Interior Minister, Mustafa Çiftçi, also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said emergency agencies had been mobilized to assist those affected.

A devastating reminder of highway dangers

The crash has left families mourning loved ones and dozens of people recovering from their injuries. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any foreign nationals were among the victims.

As investigators work to establish exactly how the collision happened, officials have emphasized the importance of following traffic rules and determining whether any road violations contributed to the tragedy.

For now, the focus remains on the injured, the families of those killed, and the ongoing investigation into one of the country’s latest deadly road accidents.

Source:

PEOPLE

Al Jazeera