Plenković dismisses Defence Minister Mario Banožić after fatal accident

(Patria) - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković addressed the public today regarding the traffic accident involving Defence Minister Mario Banožić.

In that accident, as a reminder, the van driver Goran Šarić (40) died, and Minister Banožić was seriously injured.

Plenković first expressed condolences to the family of the deceased.

- You have heard the circumstances of the accident, and we express regret and concern for the condition of the minister, who is hospitalised with serious bodily injuries.

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Težak udes u Vinkovcima: Povrijeđen hrvatski ministar odbrane Mario Banožić, jedna osoba poginula

(Patria) - Ministar odbrane Hrvatske Mario Banožić učestvovao je jutros u saobraćajnoj nesreći u kojoj je jedna osoba poginula.Banožić je upravljao automobilom koji se sudario s kombijem, čiji je vozač poginuo, piše Telegram.Kako je potvrdi

We expressed condolences to the family of Mr. Šarić. We are in contact with the wife of Minister Banožić. I have dismissed Banožić - said Plenković.

He stated that he authorised State Secretary Zdravko Jakob to perform the duties of Defence Minister.

- Persons who are protected persons of the second category have the rule that they can drive themselves. He was driving his personal vehicle. He was going on a private matter. For protected persons, it is better to be driven by professionals.

This was a situation where he was driving himself over the weekend and a serious traffic accident occurred. We are sorry for the deceased Mr. Šarić, but we are also sorry for Mr. Banožić.

We will find a way to help the family of Mr. Šarić - said Plenković.

One of the journalists' questions was whether the information that appeared that Banožić was at a party last night was correct and whether blood test results had arrived.

- I do not have reliable information. I really do not know where he was last night. I do not have such information - replied Plenković.

Banožić, as it is learned, was going hunting when the accident occurred. The deceased is a 40-year-old from Privlaka, father of two children.

The County State Attorney's Office announced that Banožić overtook a truck in fog and collided head-on with a van coming from the opposite direction.

The accident occurred at 6:15 AM at the exit from Vinkovci towards Županja. Banožić was admitted to Vinkovci Hospital at 8:30 AM, and then transferred to Osijek Clinical Hospital Centre.

From the Osijek hospital, they announced that Banožić is in intensive care, with injuries to the brain, chest and extremities, and that he is not in life-threatening condition. He does not remember the accident, the doctor says.