NATO state’s defense chief sacked after fatal car crash

Croatia’s Mario Banozic allegedly caused the accident while passing a truck on a slippery road in foggy conditions

Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banozic has been dismissed from his post following his involvement in a car crash in which the driver of a vehicle that he hit was killed, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has announced.

The accident occurred on Saturday morning near the city of Vinkovci in eastern Croatia, and was allegedly Banozic’s fault. According to media reports, he was driving his own vehicle, allegedly without insurance, and was trying to pass a truck on a wet, slippery road in thick fog, when he collided with an oncoming van driven by Goran Saric, 40, who was killed instantly. 

Banozic sustained serious injuries to his brain, chest, and limbs, and reportedly does not remember the accident. After receiving emergency treatment at Vinkovci General Hospital, he was transported to Osijek Clinical Medical Center.