VINKOVCI, Croatia - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Saturday dismissed Defence Minister Mario Banozic after he was involved in a car collision in which another driver was killed.

Mr Plenkovic told a press conference that Mr Banozic was also in hospital with serious injuries.

Mr Banozic, defence minister since 2020, was in his private car leaving the eastern town of Vinkovci when he was in collision with a van.

Authorities said the van driver was killed.

“You have heard the circumstances of the accident and we express regret and concern about the condition of the minister who is hospitalised with serious injuries,” Mr Plenkovic said.

“I have relieved minister Banozic of his duties as minister of defence,” he added.

Mr Banozic suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to hospital but his life was not threatened, government spokesman Marko Milic said earlier. AFP