Six people were killed in a road collision between two cars on the I/66 route between Heľpa and Závadka nad Hronom in central Slovakia, police said late on Wednesday.
According to early reports, the crash occurred in the evening when two passenger vehicles collided head-on. Emergency services attended the scene, but six people, including a 14-year-old boy, were confirmed dead. Another boy, aged seven, was taken to hospital with injuries.
Police from the Banská Bystrica Region said on Wednesday night they had documented the scene and that the I/66 road remained completely closed in both directions. Drivers were urged to avoid the area and follow diversion routes.
The other five victims were aged 36, 35, 28, 23 and 20, according to regional police. They all came from the village of Šumiac, near Heľpa.
Officials from the government’s office for Roma communities said on social media that a young family travelling in one of the cars had been killed, leaving one son in critical condition. The second car was carrying a group of young men returning from work.
Police said on Thursday the Ford was travelling from Heľpa towards Závadka nad Hronom when it came up behind another vehicle. The driver attempted to overtake on a long, straight stretch of road, but collided head-on with an oncoming car.
President Peter Pellegrini expressed his condolences on social media, extending “sincere sympathy to the families and loved ones who have lost their nearest and dearest in this tragedy”.
Condolences were also offered by Alexander Daško, the government’s commissioner for Roma communities, who wrote that “both cars were carrying Roma families”.
The interior minister, the health minister and the governor of the Banská Bystrica Region also expressed their condolences on social media.
The I/66 is a key regional road linking Brezno and Poprad through the Low Tatras.
