A massive pileup occurred on Sunday at Egnatia Odos highway on the road from Veria to Thessaloniki, resulting in five deaths and thirty-five injured. The crash, which involved a total of 35 vehicles including three trucks, occurred when a 39-year-old driver of a truck with Romanian plates, loaded with 19 tons of goods, swooped upon the vehicles unable to apply his breaks. 
At the time of the tragic incident road works were in progress. The truck driver claimed that he saw the warning sign and two men signalling drivers with flags, but was unable to reduce speed. The police have detained the driver as well as his company’s 42-year-old manager for manslaughter and will be facing the Veria prosecutor on Monday. 
Traffic on the Egnatia Odos has been restored.