Police arrest tanker driver after dangerous overtaking near Chania airport, video goes viral
A tanker truck driver was arrested in Heraklion on Friday after a video showing him performing a series of dangerous overtaking manoeuvres on the busy Chania airport road went viral. The driver, who has since been fired by his employer, forced a car ahead to swerve off the road while oncoming traffic approached.
Video surfaces of dangerous overtaking
Footage recorded by a passing car's front and rear cameras documents a tanker truck on the Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK) near Chania airport. The driver flashes his headlights persistently and honks at the vehicle ahead, pressuring it to move right. He then crosses a double solid line and overtakes, forcing the car to partially leave the road to avoid a collision, while vehicles approach from the opposite direction.
Police identify and arrest the driver
The Traffic Police of Chania used the video footage to trace the driver. He was located in the Heraklion prefecture and taken into custody under within-flagrante-delicto procedures. A case file is being prepared for the traffic violations. The suspect will be brought before a prosecutor on Saturday morning.
- Video of the dangerous overtaking near Chania airport is posted online and goes viral.
- Driver identified and arrested in Heraklion; employer terminates his contract.
Employer terminates contract
According to SKAI, the company that owned the heavy vehicle dismissed the professional driver shortly after the incident came to light. No further details about the firm have been released.
Road safety context
The airport road is among Crete's busiest corridors, especially during the summer tourist season. Local news outlets noted that the scene reflects a broader mentality of aggressive driving that contributes to traffic accident statistics. No injuries were reported from this particular overtaking, but commentators emphasised that the outcome could have been fatal.
