Seven dead after tractor carrying workers overturns in Turkey’s Sakarya

SAKARYA

At least seven people were killed and nine others were injured after a tractor carrying nut workers overturned in the Hendek district of the northwestern province of Sakarya on Aug. 18.

The cause of the accident in the Köseköy neighborhood at around 7:25 a.m. was not immediately known.

Several ambulances were dispatched to the scene after the incident and the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals.

Four of the seven killed were identified as Faruk Boz, Bedirhan Çağatay, Bahar Çağatay and Şengül Akman, while the injured were identified as Veysel Akman, Mehmet Boz, Yusuf Akman, Gizem Boz, Yusuf Çapak, Aleyna Boz, Uğur Boz, Gülistan Boz and Baver Çağatay.

Sakarya Governor İrfan Balkanlıoğlu also arrived at the scene and informed Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu about the accident by phone.

He said the workers and their relatives had come from the southeastern province of Mardin to pick hazelnuts in the province.

“The owner of the tractor had given the key to a citizen from Mardin. Somehow, he slipped the tractor while going down the ramp. Five women and two men unfortunately died and we also have nine wounded. The driver of the tractor also died. The family is here and we are here with the district governor and are providing all kinds of help,” Balkanlıoğlu said.

He added that a 17-year-old man was also on board the tractor and one of the wounded was in a critical condition.

Balkanlıoğlu also urged more caution for citizens employing seasonal workers and themselves.