Van carrying radioactive material crashes in Bosnia

Van carrying radioactive material crashes in Bosnia

MODRICA -- A van transporting radioactive material iridium-192 and a passenger car collided on Friday morning near the town of Modrica in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The driver of the car, a VW Polo, died in the accident.

The Banja Luka-based Nezavisne Novine newspaper reported that the police blocked the area around 04:00 CET in order for Bosnia's agency in charge of nuclear safety to measure radiation levels there.

The daily said that the van was from Prijedor in Bosnia's Serb entity (RS), and was transporting "an apparatus with radioactive material" from the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences.

According to initial information from Modrica's Civil Defense, the iridium isotope is in a solid state and there is "no danger of radiation so far."

Bosnia's Regulatory Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety said on Friday there was no danger of a "radiological incident."

Director Emir Dizdarevic said that an inspector from Banja Luka was at the scene where radiation levels were measured, and concluded that there was no leakage from the container.

Dizdarevic explained that the material and the container in which it was transported belonged to the Bosnamontaza company from Prijedor, to which his agency issued a license, and confirmed that appropriate safety measures had been taken.