4 people die in Croatia when car carrying migrants hits a wall as driver attempts to flee police

A tragic accident occurred in southern Croatia on Thursday when a car carrying migrants skidded off the road and collided with a wall, resulting in the death of four people and causing serious injuries to five others, according to police reports.

The car was reportedly speeding and had evaded a police checkpoint just prior to the incident, as stated by Croatia’s Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic. It remains uncertain whether the driver, who was speeding to avoid detection for people smuggling, was among those killed in the crash or is among the injured. The passengers, including a child, sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment.

Bozinovic clarified that the incident did not involve a typical car chase but rather occurred when the driver lost control while attempting to negotiate a curve at excessive speed.

The car had foreign license plates, though Bozinovic did not provide further specifics. Authorities are also searching for another vehicle that was present at the scene but managed to escape.

Croatia, an EU member state, serves as a transit point for migrants seeking to reach Western Europe, often passing through Bosnia before continuing their journey towards Slovenia or Italy. The reliance on people smugglers to facilitate unauthorized border crossings is common among migrants.

The accident took place near the town of Sinj, approximately 18.6 kilometers (11.6 miles) from the Bosnian border, around 7 a.m.