Scenes straight out of an action movie unfolded on Thursday morning in the Silifke district of Mersin, Turkey, when a man boarded a minibus carrying passengers, suddenly attacked the driver, and seized control of the vehicle. The incident sent passengers into a state of panic as the bus was still in motion. Minutes later, the attacker fled the scene behind the wheel, only to meet a fatal end after a serious crash approximately four kilometers away. The incident has sparked widespread concern in Turkey, as it was only by sheer luck that none of the passengers on board at the time of the attack lost their lives.
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According to reports from Turkish media outlets, including nefes, the man involved in the incident was identified as Enes Can Ozata. He boarded the minibus, which had 12 passengers on board, and without any warning launched an attack on the driver. The driver, Furkan Gok, was assaulted while seated behind the wheel. Despite the sudden and violent nature of the attack, he managed to keep his composure and bring the vehicle to a stop before the situation could escalate into an even greater tragedy.
Turkey: The attack on the bus and the passengers’ escape
According to reports, the driver immediately opened the vehicle’s doors, allowing passengers to disembark and flee to safety. Those on board evacuated the minibus in a panic, while the driver himself also managed to get away from the attacker. The suspect then took the driver’s seat and assumed full control of the minibus.
He initially reversed the vehicle and collided with another car. He then struck a second minibus parked ahead of him before speeding away from the scene. His reckless joyride lasted only a few minutes, but it was enough to cause additional road incidents and pose a serious threat to other drivers on the road.
Mersin’de şoföre saldırıp minibüsü kaçıran kişi, 4 kilometre sonra kaza yaparak hayatını kaybetti.
pic.twitter.com/2UJLa2H5Gp— Pusholder (@pusholder) June 18, 2026
Turkey: The fatal crash that ended it all
Approximately four kilometers down the road, the man lost control of the minibus. The vehicle crossed the central divider, veered into oncoming traffic, and crashed into trees. The force of the impact was such that the attacker sustained severe injuries.
Police and emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the scene. When first responders arrived, they found that the man had already died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. Despite the severity of the events, the consequences for the bus passengers were limited. According to the same reports, only one woman suffered a minor hand injury while attempting to exit the vehicle when the attack broke out.
The incident has made headlines across Turkey, as it combined an assault on a public transport vehicle, reckless driving, and a fatal crash — all within the span of just a few minutes. Authorities continue to investigate all aspects of the case in order to determine the exact motives that drove the attacker to such extreme actions.
