A serious traffic accident took place, in Athens, when a truck plunged from the bridge on Thivon Avenue onto Petrou Ralli Street, on the afternoon of Thursday, May 15.
The driver, who lost control of the vehicle, was rescued with minor injuries by the fire department, which responded swiftly to the scene. He was later taken into custody by authorities. The road remained closed for several hours as traffic police implemented detours to manage congestion.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as astonishingly fortunate, as no lives were lost. One witness, who was approaching Petrou Ralli to refuel, reported seeing flashes from the trolley wires followed by a loud crash. Moments later, he saw the truck’s tractor lying on the ground. He noted that if he had been just 20–30 seconds slower, he might have been struck while on his motorcycle.
According to observers from the bridge, the truck appeared to have come directly from Lampraki Avenue without braking, plummeting straight down. Although the vehicle did not seem to be speeding, its massive weight—estimated at 40 tons—magnified the impact.
Bystanders rushed to free the driver from the wreckage, offering him water as shards of glass were lodged in his eyes. He reportedly complained of pain.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident, while clean-up operations and traffic restoration efforts continue.
