Samsunspor, Turkish Soccer Club, Survives After Team Bus Hit By Train (Video)
Turkish soccer club Samsunspor narrowly, and thankfully, averted tragedy after their team bus was hit by a train on Tuesday night.
The top-division Turkish club was apparently on its way home from an away match against Kardemir Karabükspor when the team's bus was side-swiped by a train. The slow-moving train clipped the rear of the bus before spinning it around sideways.
Video of the entire incident can be seen above.
According to Today's Zaman, defender Hakan Arslan and 24-year-old midfielder Serdar Özkan were injured in the accident.
The bus driver spoke to Today's Zaman after the crash:
Speaking to the press, bus driver Recep Terzi said there was no sign of an oncoming train at the railroad crossing where the accident occurred. He said he stepped on the gas at the last moment, preventing a worse collision. Terzi said that while entering the city, he had to cross over a grade crossing where trains pass and added: “It was midnight. The ramps were up when I was about to cross. While slowly crossing, I realized a train was approaching and had its lights off. I immediately accelerated. After I stepped on the gas, the train hit the left back wheel of the bus and pushed us aside. If I had not seen the train at the last second, it would have hit the middle of the bus and that would have led to great damage and could have even cost many lives. The players awoke in panic; many later said they were lucky to have survived.”
Samsunspor experienced a similar accident 23 years ago, although three players and the team's technical director died in that train-related accident. Luckily this accident was not as serious.
Through 25 matches, Samsunspor currently sit 17th out of the 18-team Turkish Spor Toto Super League.
[Via 101GreatGoals]
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The Huffington Post Randy Kim First Posted: 02/ 9/2012 4:19 pm Updated: 02/ 9/2012 4:22 pm