A man was killed when the overpass on E-5 motorway in Istanbul collapsed after a tanker hit one of its columns, according to the latest reports, Turkish daily ‘Yeni Safak’ reports.
Istanbul’s Chief of Police Selami Altinok said that the incident left one person dead and four others injured, one of whom remains in serious condition. Altinok also said it was a glucose tanker which hit the column of the pedestrian overpass on the E-5 highway.
The man who who died at the incident was the driver of a minibus and the passenger who was seated next to the driver was injured, the governor office’s statement says.
The collapse, which happened in the district of Avcilar at around 10 am today, disrupted travel in both directions.
Another witness said that he saw an oil tanker hit the column of the overpass.
Fire engines and ambulances were immediately sent to the scene after the accident.
Police closed the highway to car traffic in both directions while metrobus services were canceled in the direction of Avcilar-Beylikdüzü.
Firefighters sprayed foam on the highway to prevent a possible explosion, which could happen due to a gas leak.
Bulldozers are still clearing debris from the scene of the accident on the highway.
