Croatia’s defense minister sacked after causing a fatal car crash that also left him hospitalized

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s defense minister has been sacked after he apparently caused a traffic collision in which one person died and he was also seriously injured. Authorities say defense Minister Mario Banozic was overtaking a truck in bad weather when he crashed into a van coming from the opposite direction. The van driver died in the crash and Banozic was hospitalized with serious injuries. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said shortly after initial findings were published that he was removing Banozic from his position as defense minister. The government spokesman expressed his condolences to the van driver who died in the crash on Saturday morning.