Seriously injured Defense Minister dismissed

Croatian government spokesman Marko Milic said Banozic was seriously injured in a traffic accident near the town of Vinkovci at 6:15 a.m. local time and that the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident died.

“He received medical care at the Vinkovci district hospital and will now be referred to the Osijek clinical medical center,” Milic said.

“I WAS FIRED”

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a press conference in the capital Zagreb after the traffic accident: “Under these extraordinary circumstances, I dismissed Banozic from his position as Defense Minister.”

Plenkovic stated that the State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Zdravko Jakop, was appointed to replace Banozic.

Plenkovic expressed sadness about Banozic’s health and expressed his condolences to the family of the driver who died in the accident.

The statement from the Vinkovci Prosecutor’s Office states that Banozic caused the accident as a result of incorrect overtaking. (AA)