A 24-year-old man died instantly early Sunday in the town of Loutsa, east of Athens, after a speeding car lost control and plowed into him and his family as they stood beside their parked vehicle. The victim’s mother, sister, and partner were injured in the crash, which residents say occurred on a stretch of road notorious for dangerous driving.
The collision happened shortly after midnight, when a blue car driven by a 29-year-old man was traveling at what authorities describe as extremely high speed. The driver lost control, veered off the roadway and struck four pedestrians gathered outside their parked car.
Residents told local media that the area has seen repeated accidents, blaming excessive speed and reckless driving. “They drive like crazy,” one resident said. “Motorcycles and cars race through here at unbelievable speeds. We’ve mourned many victims.”
Police confirmed that video footage from the scene shows the vehicle traveling well above the posted speed limit. A full forensic investigation is underway, authorities said.
Residents described chaotic and horrifying scenes at the crash site. One witness recounted how she attempted CPR on the young man but found he was already dead. She described the mother’s shock at the scene and the severe injuries of the young woman, who was being held by bystanders.
Another witness reported the driver’s apparent lack of awareness of the situation, saying: “When the paramedic told him he had killed someone, he replied, ‘Yes? My ear hurts.’ He seemed detached, inspecting his car rather than showing any emotion for what had happened.”
Emergency medical services (EKAB) reportedly arrived 25 minutes after the crash.
The victim’s partner suffered serious injuries and is being treated in a neurosurgical unit, according to medical staff monitoring her condition.
The 29-year-old driver has been granted time to prepare his testimony and is expected to appear before investigators on Wednesday. Local reports indicate he has been involved in a previous traffic incident and has come to the attention of authorities in the past for drug-related matters.
