Man drives into military zone with crane, dies after crane topples in western Turkey

Soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the Dalaman Aerodrome Command signaled a stop warning to the crane as it approached. When the driver disobeyed the stop warning and ran over the barriers of the military site, soldiers first shot into the air and then towards the vehicle. 

The crane advanced more and then fell into a ditch. 

Paramedics and military authorities said the driver, who was later identified as 21-year-old Adil Yıldızlı, was found dead inside the crane. Yıldızlı was a crane operator at an electricity distribution company.  Two soldiers were injured in the incident. An investigation has since been launched.

Muğla Governor Amir Çiçek said Yıldızlı was drunk when he caused the incident and had turned his direction to the Dalaman Aerodrome Command after police signaled a stop warning to perform an alcohol test. 

“The man, who came to the main entrance, did not stop even though the soldiers had warned him by firing shots in the air; he kept escaping by breaking the barriers,” said Çiçek. 

Çiçek said the tires of the crane were shot at after it entered the main entrance and fell into the ditch, adding that Yıldızlı had lost his life due to the toppling of the crane. 

“We do not believe the incident has a terror connection,” Çiçek said.