Four dead after car plunges into sea on Croatian coast

(Photo credit: HGSS Stanica Gospić)

A tragic road incident claimed four lives on Thursday afternoon on the D8 state road near Bunica, just south of Senj.

According to the Lika-Senj Police Department, a car with Zagreb licence plates, reportedly rented at Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb, was travelling from Rijeka towards Senj when the driver lost control in a mild left bend at 4:20 pm.

For reasons yet unknown, the vehicle veered to the right, struck two stone barriers, plunged around 70 metres down a ravine, and ended up in the sea.

The victims – two men and two women aged 68, 67, 67, and 66 – were tourists from Malta.

(Photo credit: HGSS Stanica Gospić)

The bodies were recovered from the water by members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service from Gospić and transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Rijeka for autopsy and identification. A towing service was also on site to retrieve the car from the sea.

Police confirmed that a criminal investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

Reports also indicate there is a possibility the driver suffered a medical episode while driving.

The autopsy results will provide further clarity.