ISTANBUL: Ündar Ziya Gültekin, who was elected acting mayor of Istanbul’s Üsküdar district last month, died in a road accident in Türkiye’s northern Düzce province on Thursday.
Gültekin was among five people injured when two cars collided on the Anatolian Highway while he was travelling from Istanbul to the capital, Ankara. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Hasan Şengüloğlu, head of the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) Düzce branch, confirmed Gültekin’s death several hours after the accident. Gültekin represented the AK Party in the Üsküdar municipal council.
According to media reports, road conditions may have contributed to the crash. Heavy rainfall has made roads slippery across northern Türkiye, while severe flooding in Istanbul on Wednesday claimed two lives.
Gültekin was elected acting mayor of Üsküdar on September 8 following a court ruling that led to a repeat vote for the position.
His predecessor, Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, was arrested on July 31 in connection with an investigation into alleged organised crime, bribery and extortion. The Interior Ministry subsequently suspended her from office, paving the way for the special election that brought Gültekin to the post.
