SECONDS FROM DISASTER: Officials Blame Improper Overtake As Seven Die In Türkiye Bus Crash
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A routine evening drive turned into a nightmare in southeastern Türkiye on September 27, 2026, when a passenger midibus and a car slammed into each other head-on along the Gaziantep-Nurdağı road. The crash happened at around 6:06 p.m. near the rural Acaroba neighborhood, with the midibus running its regular route between Hatay and Gaziantep. Seven people were killed, and every one of them was in the car: five adults and two children. At least 13 others were injured and rushed to hospitals by ambulance, although some outlets reported a higher injury count of 16 as the numbers were updated through the night.
Gaziantep Deputy Governor İlker Eker said early findings point to the car making an improper overtaking maneuver, and security camera footage circulating online reportedly shows the car swerving into the midibus's lane just before impact. The force of the collision left the car crushed beyond recognition and sent the midibus tipping onto its side. Firefighters, AFAD disaster teams, medical rescue crews, police, and gendarmerie rushed to the scene, and videos from the site show the overturned bus, the wrecked car, and body bags lined up along the road. Officials say identification of the victims is underway and a wider investigation is continuing, while national leaders have sent condolences to the families. It is a heartbreaking reminder of how a single risky decision on the road can change so many lives in a matter of seconds.