13 Confirmed Fatalities Identified in Tragic Bus Accident Near Slavonski Brod

Thirteen individuals have been confirmed dead following a devastating bus accident that occurred on the A3 highway near Slavonski Brod, Croatia, on July 25, 2021. The victims, primarily citizens of Kosovo returning from Germany, include a North Macedonian citizen and several individuals from various towns in Serbia. The incident involved a bus operated by the Kosovo-based company "Deva Tours," which veered off the road and overturned.

Visegrád 24, a media outlet, shared a list of confirmed fatalities, stating,

"Among the confirmed dead are: Nemanja Komar (born 2007) from Stepanovićevo; Anđela Ruman (born 2004) from Stara Pazova; Đorđe Firić (born 1971) from Kovilj; Valentina Firić (born 2014) from Kovilj; Sara Firić (born 2018) from Kovilj; Milica Adamović (born 2008) from Kać; Mileva Karanović (born 1948) from Kać; Sanja Ćirić Arbutina (born 1989) from Kać; Stefan Hrka (born 1997) from Belgrade; Miloš Milosavljević (born 2003) from Knćanin; Đuro Švonja (born 1947) from Stepanovićevo; Vukašin Raković (born 1955) from Bukovac; Vasko Sazdovski (born 1979), a citizen of North Macedonia." The tweet also indicated that additional identities remained unconfirmed.

The bus was carrying 67 passengers and two drivers at the time of the crash. In addition to the fatalities, 44 people sustained injuries, with 15 of them described as severe. Croatian authorities, including the Minister of Health Vili Beroš and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, visited the scene and the hospital where the injured were treated, expressing condolences to the victims' families.

Initial investigations pointed to fatigue as a potential factor, with the bus driver, identified as A.L., being arrested on suspicion of causing the accident. The driver reportedly admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. The accident prompted a significant emergency response and garnered international attention due to the diverse nationalities of the victims and the severity of the incident.

The tragedy highlighted concerns about long-haul bus travel safety and driver regulations. Families of the victims faced the arduous task of identifying their loved ones, with many traveling from Kosovo, Serbia, and North Macedonia to Croatia. The incident remains one of the deadliest road accidents in Croatia in recent years.