GIRNE Mayor Murat Şenkul has expressed his fury and shame following the death of well-known local resident Turan Obalı, who was killed after an alleged drink-driver crossed into his lane on Friday morning.
The fatal collision occurred at around 6.45am on 7 August on the Girne-Güzelyurt main road, near the Geçitköy bend.
According to a statement from the Police Press Office, 21-year-old Yağmur Açıkgöz was driving a ZZV 648-registered car towards Çamlıbel when she lost control on a left-hand bend and crossed into the opposing lane.
Her vehicle collided with an FJ 868-registered car being driven in the opposite direction by 85-year-old Turan Obalı, a resident of Çamlıbel. Police said Açıkgöz was found to have an alcohol reading of 167mg.
Obalı was seriously injured in the collision and sadly died at the scene.
Açıkgöz and two passengers in her vehicle, including 21-year-old Yusuf Gürdü and a 17-year-old, were taken to Girne Dr Akçiçek Hospital for treatment.
Suspects tried to mislead police
The case took a further turn later on Friday when police said they had established that the driver and passengers had given false information about who had been behind the wheel.
Police allege that a 25-year-old male passenger initially claimed that he had been driving the vehicle, while the actual driver and two other passengers supported this version of events.
Açıkgöz was subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing a death, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without insurance cover and providing false information to police. Three passengers were also arrested on suspicion of giving false information. The police investigation is continuing.
Turan Obalı – a familiar and respected figure
Obalı was a familiar and respected figure in the Girne area. In 2021, he was among 23 people featured in Girne Municipality’s Meslekler ve Yüzler-1 (“Professions and Faces”) book, which sought to preserve the stories of people who had contributed to the city through their work, knowledge, experience and character.
His death prompted an emotional response from Girne Mayor Murat Şenkul, who described Obalı affectionately as “Turan Abi” and “Turan Amca”, and said the tragedy demonstrated the scale of North Cyprus’s road-safety problem.
Girne Mayor Murat Şenkul statement
In a statement on social media, Şenkul wrote:
“I am both deeply saddened and furious.
“As I said the other day, the failure to observe traffic rules has now become a national security problem for our country, and any one of us could be the next victim.
“Turan Abi — a beloved figure in the Turkish Quarter in particular, and across our country more broadly — was taken from us while driving in his own lane.
“Now, some people who do not know how the accident happened will come forward and say, ‘People shouldn’t be driving at that age.’
“Yet those who knew Uncle Turan know that, despite being 85, he was healthier in both mind and body than many people in their 50s.
“And I want everyone to know the truth: the accident happened when the other vehicle crossed into the opposite lane and struck Uncle Turan’s car as he was travelling correctly, in accordance with the rules, in his own lane.
“We can no longer even protect the elders who made possible this country and the lives we have today.
“I am more angry than I am sad, and I feel deeply ashamed that we have failed Uncle Turan.
“Forgive us, Uncle Turan. Instead of proving ourselves worthy of you, we have become a society that has surrendered to material gain and lost its values...”
