Fatal Road Accident in Romania Claims Lives of Football Supporters
A devastating traffic collision in Romania on January 27, 2026, resulted in the deaths of seven supporters of the Greek football club PAOK. The incident occurred around 1:00 PM on the DN6 – E70 highway near the town of Lugoj in Timiș County. The crash involved a rented minibus carrying the fans, which collided with a tanker truck carrying ethyl alcohol and then with another cargo truck, leaving three additional people injured.
Victim Details and Official Response
The deceased supporters, aged between 25 and 27, were primarily from the Greek cities of Thessaloniki, Alexandria, and Katerini. The 29-year-old driver of the minibus survived the crash. Romanian police have initiated a criminal investigation for manslaughter and causing bodily harm.
The group was traveling to an away match for the 8th round of the Europa League against French club Lyon. The tragedy reminded Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis of a similar fatal bus crash involving fans in October 1999. Although the tanker did not explode, the aftermath of the collision has deeply affected the PAOK fan community and local residents. This incident underscores the inherent dangers of long-distance travel for away supporters across Europe's road networks.
The crash raises serious concerns about transportation safety for group travel, particularly involving rented vehicles. The response from local authorities and law enforcement may lead to greater awareness of road safety and stricter adherence to traffic regulations, which could help prevent such tragedies in the future.