'Çekici' Tow-Truck Terror and 'Çekçekçi' Heroism in Kadıköy

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Milliyet Newspaper, 15 January 2020)

paper hunter-gatherers click here for a TNT report about
the hardest working guys and gals in Istanbul.




                                           Villain

When a 'çekici' (tow-truck operator) began to remove a parked car in
the Acıbadem neighborhood of Istanbul he didn't notice that there was
an 85-year-old woman in the car. (!)

The bizarre incident occurred on Adıbadem Avenue.  Çiğdem Cingi
went with her mother Leyla Çetinkol (85) to pay a bill.  Cingi parked
her car in front of the Hukukçular apartment complex and got out to
pay the bill, while her mother remained in the car.  No sooner had
Cingi gone then a tow-truck operator targetted her car for removal.


                                             Victim

As the tow-truck began to lift the vechile, Leyla hanım, whom the
operator didn't notice was sitting in the back seat, (understandably!)
panicked, opened the door and fell out.  Bewildered onlookers shouted
to the operator who, in a panic, began to lower the car, unknowingly,
on top of Leyla hanım. (!)

Fortunately, a 'çekçekçi' (paper-collector) among the onlookers pulled
Leyla hanım out from under the car just in time.  She was brought to
the hospital and the tow-truck operator was taken into custody by
police. At GATA Hospital it was determined that Leyla hanım had
broken six bones - two in her leg, two in her hip and two in her arm.



                                               Hero