Harrowing video footage captured the moment a truck jackknifed on a rain-drenched road, colliding with a car and trapping two individuals inside.
The driver of the vehicle, aged 42, and his passenger, aged 39, tragically lost their lives in the incident that occurred on a section of the DN2/E85 road between the communes of Cristești and Drăgușeni in Iași County, northeastern Romania, on Friday afternoon. The accident, as reported by Monitorul de Suceava newspaper, occurred when the lorry’s trailer slid, swung across the road, and blocked both lanes. Despite the car’s driver attempting to brake, the trailer flipped over and crushed the vehicle.
Emergency responders, including 13 firefighters with specialized extraction equipment, a SMURD ambulance, and teams from the Suceava and Iași County Ambulance Services, swiftly arrived at the scene, as detailed by Digi24, a Romanian TV channel.
Reports indicate that a total of four individuals were involved in the crash. The 54-year-old truck driver underwent a breathalyzer test, which showed no alcohol in his system, according to police statements. After a medical evaluation, he declined hospital transport.
In an official statement, the Iași County Police Inspectorate revealed, “On October 24, at approximately 2:55 pm, officers from the Pașcani Road Bureau were informed via 112 about a road traffic accident with human casualties in Cristești along the DN2/E85 route. Subsequent investigations revealed that a 54-year-old man from Bistrița-Năsăud County lost control of his lorry while driving from Drăgușeni to Cristești. The lorry overturned and collided with a car operated by a 42-year-old man from Suceava County.”
A criminal inquiry for manslaughter has been initiated, and authorities are actively investigating to ascertain the complete causes and details of the tragic collision.