The deadly traffic accident in Romania has shocked global public opinion, with victims’ families plunged into mourning and visible anxiety over the health condition of three injured survivors. A specially configured Health Ministry aircraft is set to depart from Elefsina air base bound for Romania on Thursday morning to conduct the medical evacuation of the three injured from the fatal crash in Romania. The three survivors will be transferred to Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki.
About 24 hours ago, in statements to Mega TV, Dorel Sandesc said that of the three injured, one is more seriously wounded and is in the ICU with multiple fractures and lung injuries. The hospital director explained that the fan in the ICU is stabilized and not under sedation. He has not been intubated, but is receiving some oxygen through a mask. The other two do not have injuries that cause concern. One is injured in the pelvis and the other has spinal injuries. The Greek ambassador to Romania arrived in Timisoara and communicated by phone with the hospital director.
The truck driver involved in the traffic accident with the van is shocked. Speaking to a Romanian media outlet, the Polish truck driver said “I’ve been driving for 34 years and have never seen anything like this in my life. I’ve driven over 1,000,000 kilometers and this is the first time I’ve encountered such conditions.”
The van had no Lane Assist system – What the car rental company lawyer told parapolitika.gr
“The van carrying the PAOK fans did not have a Lane Assist system,” Antonis Xylourgidis, lawyer for the car rental company in Katerini from which the “fatal” van was rented, told parapolitika.gr. The van was involved in the traffic accident in Romania that killed 7 and injured 3. Earlier, a shocking testimony from a survivor about what happened in the deadly crash with PAOK fans was conveyed by Greek doctor Dimitris Koukoulas, who rushed to the hospital in Romania where the injured were taken.
Speaking to ERT, he said that one of the injured, specifically the young man who is in better condition compared to the other two, having leg fractures, who spoke with the Greek doctor about what happened, kept repeating that the Lane Assist got stuck. He spoke, in other words, of a technical problem.
However, Mr. Xylourgidis notes that this is not the case, since the van did not have such a system. He also conveys the sincere condolences of the owners of the car rental company from which the “fatal” van was rented, noting that they are young people the same age as the tragically lost fans who have been “plunged” into grief. At the same time, he emphasizes to parapolitika.gr that it is not mandatory for such a van to be driven by a professional driver, as has been suggested.
It should be noted that indeed, according to parapolitika.gr information, the van’s first registration in Greece was on 16/6/2017, when there was no EU requirement for the Lane Assist system.
PAOK fans crash in Romania: What an eyewitness testified
An eyewitness to the accident who was two vehicles behind the van with PAOK fans reported that before crossing into oncoming traffic, the van touched the edge of the tanker truck it was overtaking, which captured the accident on video. “It went right-left to see if it could overtake. It kept looking. At some point, it overtook. From where I was positioned, it was clear that it had no chance of overtaking or at least it was extremely dangerous. The red truck was coming from the opposite direction. During the overtaking, it realized it couldn’t complete the maneuver and headed to the right of the truck, trying to get into the right lane, the lane where it should have been. At that moment it hit the red truck,” said the eyewitness, who immediately called the authorities. He reported that after the accident, he saw one of the survivors getting out of the van. However, police sources maintain there was no contact between the van and the tanker truck, according to local media libertatea.ro.
Bodies of seven victims identified
The identification of the seven victims was completed, as confirmed earlier in an interview by Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Loverdos, saying that the oldest victim was born in 1996. “It is a very difficult and heavy day for all of Greece after this tragedy that struck our country. We are all devastated at the Foreign Ministry, our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the big PAOK family.”
Speaking to SKAI TV, he said that the seven bodies were identified, with the oldest victim born in 1996. “It is a horrible situation.” “The bodies of the seven dead have been identified, there will be official announcements. Regarding the condition of the injured, all three were transferred to a good university hospital and so they have the care they need. So far we know they are in good condition, one is polytrauma, the others are better,” Giannis Loverdos characteristically stated.
