Update: Seven Greek nationals dead in western Romania after minibus crash
Update 2: Roughly 200 supporters of the Greek PAOK Thessaloniki team arrived on Tuesday, January 27, in Lugoj, in western Romania, to see the site of the minibus accident in which 7 men died, and three others were injured. They also visited the Timișoara County Hospital, where the wounded are being treated, according to News.ro.
The victims of the traffic accident are Greek football fans who were heading to France to see a match between Olympique Lyon and PAOK Thessaloniki in the Europa League. Four representatives of the supporters went to visit one of the three injured, the one who is in the best state of health, accompanied by a doctor.
The ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in Bucharest, Lili Evangelia Grammatika, arrived at the Timișoara County Hospital the same day. She thanked the Romanian authorities for their support after the accident.
Romanian health minister Alexandru Rogobete, in turn, said he has been in direct permanent contact with his counterpart from Greece since the accident. “I have been in direct contact with the Minister of Health of Greece, given that the persons involved are Greek citizens, for coordinating the situation and correctly informing the authorities,” he added on Wednesday, January 28.
Two of the injured are 20 years old, and the third is 28, all suffering multiple injuries, but they are stable.
Update 1: Prime minister Ilie Bolojan said he extends, on behalf of the Romanian government, condolences to the families of the seven young people from Greece who lost their lives in the road accident in Timiș county. "I wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy," he added.
The minibus was carrying Greek supporters of PAOK Thessaloniki, coached by Răzvan Lucescu, according to Digi24. The president of PAOK FC, Ivan Savvidis, said in a statement that he is "devastated by the unjust loss of young people," adding, "I mourn with the families and millions of our compatriots. May God rest their souls. These children, the children of PAOK, are our children, they are members of a large family. And we do everything for our family and we do not leave anyone behind."
Initial story: Seven people died in a traffic accident on National Road 6 in Timiș county, in western Romania, after a minibus entered the opposite lane, where it crashed into a TIR frontally. The minibus was registered in Greece, and all ten passengers were reportedly of Greek nationality. They were on their way to France, according to Euronews Romania.
The Romanian authorities have already informed the Embassy of Greece in Bucharest.
The crash took place after the driver began overtaking a tanker. He seemingly thought he did not have enough time to complete the maneuver and attempted to return to his lane. Video captured by a camera mounted on the tanker showed how the accident unfolded. The driver may have had time to avert the disaster, but instead continued toward the truck, according to G4Media.
Initial reports from the police said that the minibus driver may have sideswiped the tanker while returning to his lane and subsequently collided with the truck, but the video seems to disprove this.
The accident took place on DN 6, between Lugojel and Gavojdia. An initial intervention and command vehicle, a rescue vehicle, a firefighting vehicle, two SMURD crews, and an ATPVM (Personnel and Multiple Victims Transport Vehicle) were urgently dispatched to the scene.
The impact was so strong that the minibus was completely destroyed, and pieces were scattered on the road, according to images from the scene published by the local press.
Authorities announced six casualties at first, with three other travelers injured. However, one of the victims died on the way to the hospital. A tenth passenger escaped without being injured.
(Photo source: DRDP Timisoara on Facebook)
