Multi-vehicle crash on Greece's Egnatia highway leaves 9 migrants injured, one trapped

The crash

On Tuesday afternoon, 21 July 2026, a van carrying irregular migrants collided with a preceding vehicle on the Egnatia Odos motorway near the Mesti junction, between Alexandroupoli and Komotini in northeastern Greece. The impact caused the van to veer off its path and triggered a chain-reaction crash involving multiple other vehicles, according to local news reports. One passenger car overturned and came to rest on the roadway. The pile-up involved at least three vehicles, including the van and the overturned car. The accident occurred in the westbound lanes toward Komotini, between the Sapai junction and the Mesti toll station, a stretch of highway that runs through the Evros region close to the Turkish border. The exact circumstances leading to the collision remain unclear. The incident was reported by several Greek media outlets, including in.gr, NewsIT, and Η Ναυτεμπορική, citing police sources.

Casualties and rescue operation

Emergency services, including traffic police, ambulance crews, and fire brigade rescue teams, were dispatched to the scene. Initial reports indicate that nine irregular migrants travelling in the van were injured, with most injuries described as light. The injured were being transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The nationalities of the injured migrants have not been disclosed. Rescue workers are conducting an operation to free one person who remains trapped inside the wreckage. No fatalities have been confirmed as of the latest updates. The number of injured could change as the extrication effort continues into the evening.

Investigation and search for fleeing vehicle

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. According to NewsIT, the preceding vehicle that was struck by the migrant van fled the scene, and authorities are actively searching for it. Officers are examining whether excessive speed, driver error, or other factors played a role. The van was reportedly transporting irregular migrants, a common occurrence on this route, which is often used by smuggling networks moving people from the border area toward the interior of Greece. The driver of the van has not been identified in initial reports.

Traffic disruption on a key highway

The accident forced the temporary closure and diversion of traffic on the Egnatia Odos, a key east-west motorway that connects Igoumenitsa on the Ionian Sea to the Turkish border at Kipoi. Drivers were urged to follow police instructions and use alternative routes while emergency crews worked at the scene. The highway remained partially closed for several hours, causing delays in the area. The Mesti junction is located roughly halfway between the cities of Alexandroupoli and Komotini, a critical point on this busy route.