Tow truck loaded with car slides down hill in Esenler, crashing into 13 vehicles
A late-night accident in Istanbul’s Esenler district turned a narrow residential street into a wreckage site when a tow truck carrying a broken-down car lost control on a slope and plowed into 13 parked vehicles. One person, the tow truck driver, was injured in the incident, which was captured in detail by a nearby security camera.
The crash occurred at around 02:30 a.m. on 457th Street in Turgut Reis Neighborhood. According to initial information, a car that had broken down on the street was being loaded onto a tow truck. While the vehicle was still on the ramp and the process was underway, the tow truck suddenly began sliding backwards down the steep incline.
As the truck rolled downhill, it first hit its own driver, who at that moment was standing outside the cabin near the vehicle. The impact knocked the driver to the ground. The tow truck then continued its uncontrolled descent, slamming into a row of parked cars one after another. In total, 13 vehicles sustained varying degrees of damage.
The driver, identified by his initials A.O.E.P., suffered an injury to his ankle during the incident. Witnesses immediately called emergency services. Medical teams arrived shortly after and provided first aid at the scene. The injured driver was then taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
Security camera footage from the area shows the tow truck beginning to move backward on the slope, gathering speed as it descends. The video clearly records the driver being struck and the subsequent chain of collisions as the truck crashes into the parked cars lined up along the street. The images underline how quickly a routine towing operation turned into a serious accident.
Residents who rushed out of their homes after hearing the loud crashes described a chaotic scene: twisted bumpers, shattered glass, and vehicles pushed up onto the sidewalk. Several cars were heavily damaged on their front and rear ends, while others suffered dents, broken lights and scraped bodywork. Despite the extensive material damage, the fact that there were no additional injuries was described as “a stroke of luck,” given the violence of the collisions.
Police teams also arrived on the scene, closing off the street to traffic while an investigation was launched. Officers took statements from the injured driver and witnesses and examined the damaged vehicles. As part of the inquiry, investigators are focusing on whether the tow truck’s handbrake or braking system failed, or if the vehicle was not properly secured against rolling while on the slope.
Technical experts are expected to inspect the tow truck to determine whether there was a mechanical fault, such as worn brake pads, malfunctioning parking brake, or issues with the hydraulic system used during loading. Another angle under consideration is whether the wheels were sufficiently chocked and whether standard safety procedures were followed when loading a car on an incline.
The incident also reignited concerns about towing operations on steep streets in dense urban neighborhoods like Esenler. Many of these streets are narrow, with cars parked tightly along both sides, leaving little room for error. When a heavy vehicle such as a tow truck begins to roll, it can quickly cause a chain reaction, damaging dozens of cars and putting pedestrians and residents at risk.
Road safety experts emphasize that towing operations on hills require extra precautions. These can include positioning the tow truck so that it faces uphill rather than downhill, using wheel chocks on multiple wheels, engaging both the handbrake and gear, and, if possible, placing temporary warning signs or cones. They also stress the importance of drivers remaining in the cabin or in a position where they can react quickly if the vehicle starts moving.
Neighbors who inspected the scene after the accident pointed out that similar incidents have occurred in other hilly districts of Istanbul, especially during late-night hours when traffic is lighter and tow trucks operate more frequently. They called for stricter inspections of tow trucks, mandatory training on working safely on slopes, and clearer rules on where and how towing can be performed in residential areas.
Insurance issues are also likely to arise after such a multi-vehicle crash. Owners of the 13 damaged cars will need to file claims, and the extent of the tow truck operator’s liability will be evaluated based on the outcome of the technical and legal investigation. If mechanical negligence or lack of proper maintenance is established, the company operating the tow truck may face compensation claims and possible administrative penalties.
Urban planners and traffic specialists note that steep streets combined with dense parking increase the potential impact of any loss-of-control incident. They argue that in some high-risk areas, designated flat towing zones or special procedures could be introduced, such as requiring vehicles to be pushed or winched to a safer spot before loading onto a tow truck, instead of performing the operation directly on a steep slope.
Authorities are expected to review the findings of the investigation to determine whether new regulations or additional inspections for towing companies are necessary. For now, the accident in Turgut Reis Neighborhood serves as a powerful reminder of how a seemingly simple breakdown can, under the wrong conditions, escalate into a dangerous situation affecting dozens of vehicles and putting lives at risk.
Despite the scale of the material damage, residents expressed relief that the outcome was not worse. At the time of the crash, the street was almost empty, and no pedestrians were passing by the row of parked vehicles. Had the accident occurred during busier hours, the number of injuries could have been much higher.
The cleanup process took several hours as damaged cars were moved and the tow truck was secured and removed from the scene. By morning, most of the vehicles had been towed away for assessment and repair, leaving behind scraped asphalt and scattered debris as the only visible reminder of the night-time chaos on the steep street in Esenler.