17-year-old student from Kraljevo Art School killed in bus crash near Ivanić-Grad
The pupil died when a Serbian-registered bus overturned on the A3 near Ivanić-Grad; two people killed and dozens injured.
A 17-year-old student from the Kraljevo Art School, identified as Vasilija Panjako and a citizen of Montenegro, was killed in a serious road accident on the A3 highway near Ivanić-Grad in Croatia.
She was traveling with a teacher and another pupil from the same school; both were injured but their lives are not in danger. The three were en route to Prague to take part in an art-school symposium.
“With immeasurable pain we received the news that our fourth-year student, Vasilija, tragically lost her life in a serious traffic accident. In the school where ideas, colours, shapes and dreams are created every day, today there was silence,” the school said in an emotional message.
School tribute and the course of the crash
“Vasilija had her whole life ahead of her, youth, dreams and many unfinished lines of her future. Her departure leaves an irreplaceable void in our school community, among friends, teachers and all who knew her.
She was part of our school and will remain forever part of our shared story. We will remember her with sorrow, love and respect. Some colours never fade. Some traces remain forever,” the farewell note added.
The accident occurred when a Serbian-registered bus left the A3 highway near Ivanić-Grad at around 7:25 a.m., struck the metal safety barrier and overturned. Two people died: the 17-year-old Montenegrin student and a 53-year-old Croatian woman originally from Split who lived in Zagreb.
According to Zagreb police figures, five passengers sustained serious injuries and 25 were lightly injured. The driver, a 55-year-old Serbian citizen, has been arrested; prosecutors plan to file criminal charges for causing a traffic accident in road traffic and he will be handed to the detention supervisor.
The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Photo: press material from the event
