TELEGRAF AT THE SCENE OF TRAGEDY IN NOVI SAD: Divers search canal, access blocked, car towed to be examined

A horrific tragedy sent shock waves through Novi Sad this morning.

A fully submerged car that landed on its roof was discovered in a drainage canal in Majke Jugovica Street in the Klisa neighborhood of this northern Serbian city. The bodies of two men and one woman were found inside the car. According to unofficial information, the victims were on their way back from spending the morning fishing.

A Telegraf.rs portal reporter is at the scene and follows the entire dramatic situation on the ground.

Our reporter says that the approaches to the scene of the tragedy are completely blocked, secured by strong police forces. In addition to the police and the public prosecutor, there are firefighters-rescuers, a funeral company vehicle, while divers are still tirelessly searching the bottom of the canal.

Citizens first reported the accident at 09:15 hours

The first alarming report from citizens arrived at 09:15 hous, when passers-by spotted an overturned vehicle under water.

Institute for Emergency Medicine spokesman Dr. Zoran Krulj told the media that a medical team was dispatched to the scene as a priority after a call at 10:27 hours, but could only confirm that three people had died.

Metal cut through, divers working, wreckage removed

The extraction of the car was extremely dramatic and demanding due to the inaccessible location:

Firefighters-rescuers had to cut the bodywork of the car in the water in order to reach the cabin and pull out the victims.

Our reporter from the scene said that divers are still searching the muddy bottom of the canal to check if there are any more clues or objects important for the investigation.

After getting pulled out of the sunken car, the bodies of two men and a woman were taken for the autopsies.

The wreckage of the car was first pulled out of the mud onto the road with a tractor, after which it was taken over by a towing service, and will undergo emergency technical examination.

Prosecutor in charge of investigation

The on-site investigation continues under the direct supervision of the public prosecutor. The identity of the victims has not yet been officially announced, and the bodies were transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Novi Sad for autopsies, which will determine the exact cause of death and identify the victims.

(Telegraf.rs)