A wild boar caused a traffic accident early Tuesday (21.07.2026) on the Athens–Corinth National Highway near Chaidari, a western suburb of Athens. The animal entered the roadway heading toward Athens — one of Greece’s busiest and most heavily trafficked arterial roads — prompting alarm over growing safety concerns related to wild boar incursions in urban and peri-urban areas.
The boar was fatally struck by what appears to have been a large truck, as evidenced by the extent of its injuries. The impact likely allowed the driver to retain control of the vehicle and continue driving without further incident.
Staff from the Civil Protection Unit of PESYDAP — the Environmental Association of Municipalities of Athens and Piraeus — responded to remove the deceased animal from the highway near the ‘Afaia’ settlement in Chaidari. The carcass was transported in a specialized vehicle to the facilities of DIKEPAZ (the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s veterinary waste management unit) for incineration, in accordance with national legislation.
Gregoris Gourdoumichalis, President of PESYDAP, noted that this marked the first recorded instance of a wild boar being involved in a traffic collision on the Athens–Corinth National Highway — and notably, within an urban municipality like Chaidari. Warning signs about wild boar crossings have long been posted at this location, yet the incident underscores the need for additional preventive measures.
Nationwide, dozens of similar incidents — both on major highways and regional roads — have demonstrated that collisions with adult wild boars are among the most dangerous due to their substantial weight and mass. Several such accidents have resulted in fatalities or serious injuries to drivers and passengers.
In recent years, PESYDAP has collaborated closely with the Aigaleo Forestry Department to conduct repeated operations aimed at capturing and relocating wild boars from suburban zones and areas adjacent to the Athens–Corinth National Highway. Currently, herds are active on both sides of the highway between Chaidari and Lake Koumoundourou, with a clear movement pattern emerging from the Poikilo Mountain range toward Mount Aigaleo and the Schistos area.
Commenting on the situation, Mr. Gourdoumichalis urged drivers to exercise heightened caution along the entire stretch from Lake Koumoundourou to Chaidari — and more broadly, wherever Attica’s roads border forested areas. He advised reducing speed, especially at dusk and night, and using high-beam headlights where permitted, since wild boars’ eyes reflect light — making them easier to spot in time.