FOOTBALL

NIKOLA POKRIVAČ DIED IN A SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT NEAR KARLOVAC

tsg_news April 18, 2025

In a serious traffic accident that happened on Friday evening, April 18, 2025, on Turanj way in Karlovac, the former Croatian football national team player Nikola Pokrivač (39) died. Two people lost their lives in the accident, and three were seriously injured and transported to the hospital.

The accident occurred around 8:15 p.m. when the Audi driver, a Slovenian citizen with Austrian registration plates, overtook a column of vehicles across the entire line and collided head-on with a BMW with Zagreb registrations, in which Pokrivač and three other teammates from NK Vojnić ’95 were riding. In a strong collision, Pokrivač and the driver of the Audi, who caused the accident, were killed. Three teammates from Vojnić were severely injured, two of whom are still fighting for their lives.

A total of four cars were involved in the accident. In addition to the BMW and the Audi, two other cars were involved in the collision: a Slovenian-registered vehicle with a family from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and another vehicle with three men from the same country. Fortunately, the passengers of those vehicles were not injured.

The police confirmed that the driver of the Audi started illegally overtaking across the whole line, crossed into the opposite lane, and hit the BMW with Pričvič and his teammates head-on. After that, the Audi struck two more vehicles, further escalating the scale of the accident. Traffic on the Turanjska bypass was closed, and the investigation was conducted by the deputy of the County State Attorney’s Office.

Along with Nikola Pokrivac, Tin Džaferović and Josip Mohač were seriously injured in the BMW and transported to Karlovac General Hospital. At the same time, Franjo Berišić, the goalkeeper of NK Vojnić, suffered minor injuries. The second person who died was a Slovenian citizen, the driver of an Audi, while his minor daughter, who was in another car, was unharmed.

Nikola Pokrivac was known for his prosperous football career. He has played for Varteks, Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco, Red Bull Salzburg, Rijeka, Slaven Belupo, and other clubs. He made 15 appearances for the Croatian national team and participated in the 2008 European Championship. In recent years, he played for the lower league club NK Vojnić ’95.

The news about the tragedy was confirmed by Nebojša Andrić, the mayor of the Vojnić municipality, who pointed out that the loss has deeply shaken everyone in the club and the town. Nika, an 11-year-old girl, left the blanket behind.

According to the information available so far, the accident was caused by the Audi driver’s inappropriate speed and improper overtaking, which resulted in the vehicle moving into the opposite lane and causing a head-on collision.

This tragedy has left a deep mark on the sports and local community, and the investigation into the circumstances of the accident is still ongoing.