A 39-year-old motorcyclist has been declared brain-dead at KAT hospital in Athens following a collision with a taxi in Voula on Monday evening.
The victim's family plans to donate his organs as a gift of life to other patients, according to reliable sources, while the 32-year-old taxi driver involved in the crash has been released on bail under restrictive conditions.
Voula is a coastal suburb located along the Saronic Gulf in the southern part of the Attica region, roughly 16 kilometres south of central Athens. KAT Hospital, situated in Kifisia in northern Athens, is a major public trauma centre specialising in emergency medicine and intensive care.
Taxi driver testimony and bail conditions
The 32-year-old taxi driver was released following his court testimony before an investigating magistrate and a prosecutor. Under the terms of his release, the defendant must report to his local police station once a month, and his driving licence has been revoked indefinitely.
During his testimony, the driver denied a charge of dangerous driving. He told the magistrate that he did not see the sign prohibiting the U-turn, claiming that his GPS navigation system changed the route at the last moment and misled him. He stated that he activated his indicator believing the turn was permitted, and added that he checked his mirror before changing lanes but saw no approaching vehicles at the time.
In Greek criminal procedure, magistrates and prosecutors assess evidence during initial depositions to determine whether a suspect should remain in custody or face pre-trial restrictions. Satellite navigation systems frequently update routes in real time, though drivers remain legally bound to obey physical road signs and turn restrictions.
Security camera footage of the collision
The accident occurred on the evening of Monday, August 17, near Crete Square in Voula. The taxi was travelling in the middle lane towards Vouliagmeni when it attempted a U-turn across the road.
The maneuver cut off the 39-year-old motorcyclist, who was riding in the same direction in the left lane. The resulting high-speed collision between the motorcycle and the taxi was recorded by a nearby security camera.
Brain death represents the complete and irreversible cessation of all brain function. When a patient is declared brain-dead in intensive care, medical protocols allow organ transplantation to proceed if the family consents, providing life-saving organs for recipients across Greece.
Other major news and emergency developments
The crash in Voula comes alongside other serious traffic incidents in the region. In Corinth, four people were injured when a vehicle overturned, requiring firefighters to perform a rescue operation at the scene.
In economic developments reported alongside the incident, inflation figures show Greece's consumer price inflation rate reached 2.7 percent in July, while overall Eurozone inflation rose to 2.9 percent.
In law enforcement news, the special department known as the Greek FBI has undertaken the investigation into a helicopter crash on the island of Sifnos.
In Greek politics, Symeon Kedikoglou announced that he has joined the ELAS party led by Alexis Tsipras, delivering an announcement inspired by the Odyssey.
Meanwhile, authorities in Greece have issued a heatwave alert, warning of extended periods of extreme heat with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
