Seven people were killed and 11 others injured when a passenger bus crashed into a truck on a highway in southern Turkey early Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, according to local authorities. The collision occurred in the Bahce district of Osmaniye province, approximately 90 kilometers west of Gaziantep.
The crash happened in the morning hours when the intercity bus rear-ended a truck that had stopped on the highway due to a flat tire. The impact caused severe damage to the front right section of the bus, while all casualties were passengers aboard the vehicle. The truck driver survived the collision and was subsequently detained by police for questioning.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene following the crash, and authorities closed the affected portion of the road to facilitate rescue operations and investigation efforts. The highway connects the cities of Adana and Gaziantep, serving as a major route for intercity travel in the region. Some sources indicate the route also links Izmir and Gaziantep.
According to the Osmaniye Governor’s Office, efforts remained ongoing to identify the victims following the collision. The state-owned Anadolu Agency provided coverage of the incident, reporting details about the circumstances that led to the crash. Officials confirmed that all seven fatalities and 11 injuries occurred among bus passengers, with no casualties reported among other parties involved.
Osmaniye Governor Erdinc Yilmaz addressed the incident through a statement on Facebook. “All of the dead and injured were on board the bus with efforts ongoing to identify the victims,” state news agency Anadolu reported, quoting the governor’s office. Yilmaz offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished for the swift recovery of the injured passengers.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about highway safety in Turkey, particularly regarding intercity bus travel. Buses serve as a primary mode of long-distance transportation throughout the country, connecting cities and provinces across diverse terrain. The highway system carries significant daily traffic, including commercial vehicles like the truck involved in this collision.
Vehicle breakdowns on highways pose particular risks when they occur in high-traffic areas or during low-visibility conditions. When a truck or other large vehicle stops unexpectedly on a roadway, it can create hazardous situations for following traffic, especially when drivers have limited time to react. The flat tire that caused the truck to stop in this case represents a common mechanical failure that can happen without warning.
Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into the crash to determine all contributing factors and circumstances. Such investigations typically examine multiple elements, including vehicle maintenance records, driver qualifications and rest periods, road conditions, and whether proper warning signals were deployed when the truck stopped. The detained truck driver’s account will form part of the investigative process.
The severity of the damage to the bus’s front section indicates the force of the impact when it struck the rear of the stopped truck. “Footage from the scene showed the front right section of the bus was totally mangled where it hit the back of the lorry,” according to state news agency Anadolu. The 11 injured passengers were receiving medical attention, though the extent of their injuries has not been detailed by officials.
Turkey’s intercity bus network operates extensively throughout the country, providing affordable transportation options for millions of travelers annually. Bus companies maintain regular routes between major cities, with vehicles traveling at various times throughout the day and night. Early morning travel, when this crash occurred, remains common for passengers seeking to maximize their time at destinations or minimize travel costs.
The closure of the highway following the crash affected traffic flow in the region as authorities worked to clear debris and conduct preliminary investigations. Police established controls to divert vehicles around the crash site while emergency personnel completed their work. Such closures are standard procedure following serious accidents to preserve evidence and ensure the safety of responders and passing motorists.
Highway accidents involving buses often result in multiple casualties due to the number of passengers typically aboard such vehicles. The 18 total casualties in this incident—seven killed and 11 injured—represent a significant toll for a single collision. Each victim’s identification process requires careful coordination between authorities and families, a task that the governor’s office indicated was continuing in the aftermath.
The Bahce district, where the crash occurred, sits along a major transportation corridor in southern Turkey. The area serves as a transit point for both passenger and commercial traffic moving between the Mediterranean coast and interior provinces. The highway’s importance to regional connectivity means that accidents occurring there can have broader impacts on travel patterns and schedules.
As investigators work to compile a complete picture of the events leading to the collision, questions about preventive measures and safety protocols will likely emerge. The findings from this investigation could influence future policies regarding vehicle maintenance standards, driver training requirements, and emergency response procedures for highway breakdowns. For now, the focus remains on supporting the injured passengers and providing answers to the families of those who died in the crash.