Traffic accident in Bekirde District: 3 dead, 4 injured, 22.5 years in prison requested for the driver

The accident occurred on February 2, at around 20.45, on the D-400 highway in Bekirde District of Akdeniz district.

While she was driving, while trying to overtake the vehicle in front of her, Melis Kuş lost control of the jeep with plate number 33 ATE 039 and plowed into the people waiting to cross the median.

Upon notice from the surrounding people, health and police teams were dispatched to the area. Under the control of paramedics, it was determined that cousins ​​Nejla Öztürk, Zehra Serdil Atak and Kübra Güney lost their lives.

The injured Kübra Güney's twin sister Büşra Güney, Burkan Acar (21) and Yunus Bagı (35) were taken to the hospital by ambulance by the medical team.

Büşra Güney, one of the injured people who was treated, died 18 days after the accident. Driver Kuş, who was detained after the accident, was arrested in court.

INDICTMENT HAS BEEN PREPARED

The public prosecutor, who completed his investigation into the incident, prepared an indictment against driver Kuş. In the indictment accepted by the 7th High Criminal Court of Mersin Courthouse, a prison sentence of up to 22.5 years in total was requested for Kuş for the crime of 'causing the death of more than one person and the injury of one or more people'.

DRIVER WAS FOUND 'ACTUALLY DEFECTIVE'

In the fault report prepared regarding the accident; It was stated that the driver Melis Kuş was 'primarily at fault', and the pedestrians waiting in the median as a continuation of the pedestrian crossing were 'faultless'. Also in the report; It was recorded that although driver Kuş was supposed to drive his vehicle in accordance with the road condition and speed limits at night on the highway with a speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour, he did not comply with this, drove recklessly and at a speed of approximately 149 kilometers per hour, well above the specified speed limit, and entered the illuminated intersection where the incident occurred, hitting the corner of the pavement, the light pole and the pedestrians, causing deaths and injuries.

THE SECOND HEARING WAS HELD

The second hearing of the case was held today at the 7th High Criminal Court of Mersin Courthouse. The detained defendant Melis Kuş, Burkan Acar, who was injured in the accident, the children's relatives and the lawyers of the parties were present in the hall.

At the hearing, E.K., who was in the same median on the day of the incident and was slightly injured, was heard as a witness. Witness E.K., who noted that the driver who hit pedestrians and caused their deaths, was driving his car fast, said, "After getting off the bus, we came to the median to cross the street. Meanwhile, I saw the vehicle coming quickly from the direction of Tarsus. The vehicle was swaying left and right as it came. Then the accident occurred. I have been living there for years, I have never seen a car coming so fast. I was shocked there, I fell to the ground. Something hit the back of my head. In the shock of that moment, I immediately got up and crossed the street. I saw no one." "I was scared because I didn't see the truck jamming the car," he said.

'FIRST HE REMOVED THE CORDING STONE, THEN THE SIGN AND THE TREE'

Mahmut Güney, the father of twin sisters Kübra and Büşra Güney, who lost their lives in the accident, said, "The driver came so fast that he passed the traffic lights and hit the median, then removed a 200-kilogram paving stone, then removed 2 poles and trees and hit the children. He could not stop and crashed into the truck in the opposite direction 100 meters away. I want him to receive the heaviest punishment."

Other relatives of the complainants also demanded that the defendant receive heavy punishment.

'I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR A LONG TIME, I REQUEST MY RELEASE'

Melis Kuş, the detained defendant who was given the floor at the hearing, claimed that the truck violated her lane by squeezing her and said the following:

"The truck stuck me, violated my lane. It is clearly visible on MOBESE. This is an accident, no one wants something like this to happen, and I didn't want it either. My view was blocked because the airbags exploded. I have no way of escaping. I have been detained for a long time, I request my release."

The lawyers of the parties also made statements at the hearing.

The court panel, which decided to continue the detention of the defendant Melis Kuş, postponed the hearing to complete the missing items in the file.