Seven people, confirmed by diplomatic sources in Bucharest to be supporters of PAOK, were killed in a tragic road accident on Tuesday in western Romania, in the Timiş region.
According to Romanian media reports, the victims were travelling in a minibus en route from Greece to France to attend PAOK’s European fixture against Lyon. The vehicle was involved in a multi-vehicle collision while attempting to overtake on a major roadway.
What happened
Reports indicate that the minibus attempted to overtake another vehicle near the entrance of the Lugoj ring road. While trying to return to its lane, it collided with a fuel tanker travelling normally in the same direction. The minibus then veered into the opposite lane, where it crashed head-on into a heavy goods vehicle.
Romanian police later confirmed that preliminary findings show the driver was in the process of overtaking when the initial collision occurred, triggering the fatal sequence of events.
Expert analysis
Speaking to Digi24, Romanian defensive driving expert Titi Aur described the incident as highly unusual.
“What happened is very particular, because it does not resemble a classic loss of control,” Aur said. “The vehicle was not travelling straight and then suddenly crossed into the opposite lane, which would have suggested fatigue or the driver falling asleep. The driver had just completed an overtaking manoeuvre and clearly had time to return safely to the right lane.”
Aur explained that, at a certain point, the driver made a slight turn to the left and continued straight towards the oncoming truck.
“One possibility is that the driver suddenly felt unwell,” he noted. “Falling asleep is less likely, since the overtaking manoeuvre had just been completed. Another scenario is severe distraction, something that often affects experienced drivers who cover long distances and underestimate the risk after countless similar manoeuvres.”
He added that the absence of any apparent evasive action suggests the movement may have been unconscious. “A driver who is alert and focused on the road has no reason to steer left into an oncoming truck,” Aur concluded.
Victims and injured
Three people were injured in the crash and are being treated at a hospital in Timişoara, with one reported to be in critical condition.
Friends of the victims told ERTnews that the group had been planning the trip for months. The minibus had reportedly been rented in Alexandria, northern Greece.
According to ERTnews, five of the passengers originated from Alexandria in Imathia, three of whom lost their lives. Three victims were from Thessaloniki (Sykies, Neapoli, and Evosmos), while one was from Katerini.
A commonly used route
It is also noted that vans and buses transporting PAOK supporters to European fixtures frequently follow this route through Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. The route is preferred as it allows travel entirely within EU member states, avoiding long waiting times at the non-EU borders of North Macedonia, Bosnia, and Serbia.
The investigation into the exact causes of the crash remains ongoing.
Source: lifo.gr