Turkey: 2 soldiers martyred in van accident

By Ahmet Ozler

KARABUK, Turkey (AA) – Two Turkish soldiers martyred were among the casualties of a prisoner transport van accident in northern Turkey Sunday, including 14 injured, including an inmate, and the van driver, who died in the hospital, said a security source on Sunday.

In a wooded area of Yenice, Karabuk, the van -- which was carrying several soldiers plus the inmate -- went off the road and down a hill some 100 meters (328 feet) high, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Medical rescue and emergency teams, as well as gendarmerie forces, rushed to the scene.

Two soldiers were martyred, while 13 soldiers and the inmate Gurbet Kalayci were injured, the source added.

The injured were taken to hospitals in Yenice and central Karabuk.

At the Karabuk Training and Research Hospital, driver Ramazan Isik succumbed to his wounds.

The other people injured were in good condition, according to information from the hospital.

The accident took place when the van was returning to prison from the funeral of Husnu Kalayci, the inmate’s brother.