The right to move safely, whether as a driver or a pedestrian, is clearly under threat. There are many reasons, but the most common cause is human error. This was also the case with Ajla Nuhanovic, a young woman who was killed two days ago in Zivinice while walking. The driver has been sanctioned, but one young life has, unfortunately, been suddenly and forever extinguished.
Instead of departing from this place for the seaside, the life of nineteen-year-old Ajla Nuhanovic ended there on August 5th at 3:45 a.m. While she was crossing the road, she was hit and killed by a car driven by twenty-six-year-old Vejsil Halilovic from Kladanj. A breathalyzer test showed he had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.94. The Cantonal Court in Tuzla, at the request of the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of Tuzla Canton (TC), ordered Halilovic into custody. He is suspected of serious criminal offenses against public traffic safety.
“He is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, under the influence of the narcotic drug amphetamine, and driving at an inappropriate speed on a road section where he could have seen the pedestrian but failed to do so. Due to high speed, contact occurred with the pedestrian, and, unfortunately, the girl died at the scene. The on-duty prosecutor conducted the investigation, accompanied by a traffic expert. We issued an order to conduct an investigation, questioned the suspect, and in the coming period, we will carry out the investigation in order to bring charges in this case,” said Admir Arnautovic, spokesperson for the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office of TC.
Ajla’s friends, colleagues from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Tuzla, and the Cultural and Artistic Society “April 7th” from Vukovije, of which she was a member, are saying their goodbyes to her on social media. They emphasize that she was extremely hardworking, talented, and a good person who had big dreams and plans. And instead of beginning to live them, she has, unfortunately, become part of the increasingly grim statistics on our roads. In just the last month, 7 people have died in traffic accidents in the TC area. Citizens are outraged by the situation, demanding action and solutions.
“I’ve been driving for 45 years, and I’ve never seen crazier drivers than now. I was never afraid of driving, but now I am. You see, you can’t even let your child out. The other day, a little girl died on the road waiting to go to the seaside; she died for no reason at all.”
“It’s really sad that it’s like this nowadays. Why is this happening? Why doesn’t someone take care of it?”
“The youth drive drunk, drive without a license, they don’t pay attention, don’t adjust to the road, especially in residential areas.”
“Speeding, young people get good, powerful cars from their fathers, have a few drinks with friends…”
“It’s terrible, all these fines are basically just a way to fill the budget, and not about solving traffic problems.”
“I’m calling for stricter penalties and their enforcement, because many say there’s someone who writes tickets, but there’s also someone who erases them.”
Today, in Donje Vukovije near Kalesija, a funeral prayer will be held for Ajla Nuhanovic, followed by her burial. Her fellow citizens have announced a peaceful protest on the same day, symbolically at 11:55 a.m. In memory of their lost fellow citizen, but also as a warning that it is high time for a better systemic response from the authorities regarding traffic safety.
