Authorities are working to determine the cause of a serious road accident that occurred at midday in the Neapoli district of Thessaloniki, where a city bus collided with a parked intercity coach before plowing into a bus stop where passengers were waiting. Four women were injured, with a 21-year-old sustaining the most serious injuries. Investigators are now pursuing two main theories: human error and mechanical failure. It remains unclear why the electric bus driver failed to brake in time.
Read also: Bus crash in Thessaloniki: “A dangerous road,” says father of 23-year-old who lost her life at the same spot in 2022 (Video)
Thessaloniki bus crash: The two scenarios under investigation
According to investigators, the first scenario involves possible human error. Authorities are looking into whether the driver may have been looking at his phone, whether he suffered a sudden medical episode, or whether his attention was diverted by a conversation with a passenger. A key piece of evidence is expected to be the onboard camera positioned in front of the driver, which continuously records activity inside the cab. Footage from this camera could reveal exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.
The second scenario concerns a potential mechanical failure. Investigators will examine the vehicle’s speed, braking system, and electrical systems. GPS data is expected to provide valuable information regarding the bus’s speed, while the vehicle is also equipped with a terminal that transmits real-time diagnostic data directly to the depot, flagging any technical faults. This data could allow authorities to reconstruct the vehicle’s condition minute by minute in the lead-up to the accident.
Thessaloniki: 21-year-old trapped between the bus and the bus stop
The moments following the collision were chaotic. According to reports, the 21-year-old became wedged between the bus’s wheels and the frame of the bus stop shelter, requiring firefighters to intervene and free her. EKAB ambulances and motorcycle rescue units rushed to the scene.
The young woman’s condition is considered more serious than that of the other three injured passengers. All four women were transported to and are currently being treated at Papageorgiou Hospital. According to a statement from OASTH (the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization), the bus involved was operating on Route 28 when it collided with a KTEL intercity bus running on Route 57.
The force of the impact shattered windows and sent shards flying across the seats, leaving passengers in a state of shock.
A 23-year-old lost her life on the same road three years ago
The accident has taken on an especially poignant dimension following testimony from Nikos Avdamoudis, who lost his 23-year-old daughter in a road accident at the very same location three years ago. Holding a photograph of her, he publicly denounced the stretch of road as dangerous and called for action.
Investigators are now focusing on the bus’s electronic data and onboard camera footage in order to determine whether the accident was caused by human error or a technical fault. The available data is expected to allow authorities to reconstruct with precision exactly what took place in the moments before the collision.
