30-year-old driver dies after car crashes into pole and catches fire in Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki
The man lost control on the Egnatia Odos service road, struck a DEI electricity pole, and was ejected into a field where he was burned. Firefighters found his charred body after extinguishing the blaze.
The crash
On the evening of 19 July 2026, a 30-year-old driver lost control of his private car on the service road of the Egnatia Odos motorway, at the location known as Mavrachomata in Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki. Under circumstances that remain unclear, the vehicle veered off the road and collided with a DEI (Public Power Corporation) electricity pole near the Oraiokastro toll station. The impact caused the car to burst into flames. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and landed in an adjacent field.
Emergency response
The Fire Service Operations Centre was alerted shortly after 20:00. Initial reports indicated that 12 firefighters with 5 vehicles were dispatched; a later update mentioned 14 firefighters at the scene. By the time they arrived, the fire had spread from the car to low vegetation in the surrounding area. The crews worked to bring the blaze under control. During the extinguishing operation, they discovered a charred body lying outside the car, a few metres away. The body was later confirmed to belong to the 30-year-old driver.
Victim recovery
An EKAB ambulance collected the remains. The exact cause of death will be determined by an autopsy, which authorities said would provide more details. No other vehicles were involved, and the driver was alone in the car. The fire also scorched dry grass and low bushes in the field, but no other injuries were reported.
Investigation underway
The Thessaloniki Traffic Police Subdivision has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the crash. Early indications suggest the driver lost control for unknown reasons, struck the pole, and was thrown from the vehicle. The fire then consumed the car and the field. The autopsy is expected to clarify whether the driver died from the impact or the subsequent fire.
