Kraljevo is shrouded in a dark cloud of grief after two horrific tragedies struck almost simultaneously. First, young Jelena Popović (23) from the village of Čukojevci lost her life in a gruesome car accident in the village of Milavčići. The car was carrying wooden planks placed on the back seat, and Jelena was hit from behind. The planks literally folded over her, and the force of the impact was so severe that there was no chance of survival. Jelena was not alone in the car; her boyfriend was with her and suffered serious injuries. He is currently fighting for his life in the hospital. Villagers and friends of the Popović family are in shock, unable to believe that Jelena, who had just started living her life, tragically died. The family had already suffered a tragedy years ago when Jelena lost her father in a traffic accident as a child.
At the same time, another tragedy unfolded in the village of Kamenica near Kraljevo. A 50-year-old man from Vladičin Han died after being buried under rubble in a quarry while helping a colleague repair an excavator. Although it was not his job, his initiative to help ended fatally. The rocks collapsed and buried him, and he most likely died on the spot. Inspectors arrived to assess the risk of further collapses, and access to the accident site remains dangerous.
These two tragedies cast a shadow over Kraljevo and its surroundings, reminding us how fragile life is and how often accidents result from carelessness and poor conditions. Jelena and the unfortunate quarry worker remain in our memories as victims who shook us all. If you have similar stories or thoughts about these tragedies, feel free to share them — maybe together we can understand and prevent future accidents.
