A civilian was killed in an accident in the northern Kurdish province of Van on Tuesday. The man was driving his car when he collided with an oncoming Turkish army armoured vehicle for reasons that are not yet clear. According to the authorities, the driver was driving on the road connecting Van and Hakkari when the collision occurred near the district of district Gürpınar. The man was so seriously injured that he died at the scene of the accident.

The civilian killed is reported to be a nephew of the mayor of Gürpınar, Hayrullah Tanış of the ruling AKP party. The military vehicle, an armoured personnel carrier, landed in a ditch after the collision. At least twelve Turkish soldiers are said to have been injured, one of them seriously, according to official reports.

The road connecting the accident site was completely closed. In addition to patrols from the surrounding area, the rescue service, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), a rescue helicopter, gendarmerie and fire brigade were also dispatched to the scene. The public prosecutor's office and the police have started an investigation into the exact circumstances of the accident.