Turkish TikTok influencer dies in traffic accident

Social media influencer Lavinia Ozmen, known for her TikTok content on overcoming trauma, lost her life in a traffic accident in Manisa’s Kirkagac district on Feb. 15. The crash also claimed the life of the vehicle’s driver, Mehmet Ensar Ozden.

The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on the Izmir-Istanbul Highway near the Kirkagac toll booths.

A severely damaged white car on a highway with debris scattered around, emergency cones placed in the background, and a tanker visible on the side. — The wreckage of the car involved in the accident that claimed the lives of TikTok influencer Lavinia Ozmen and driver Mehmet Ensar Ozden in Manisa, Türkiye, Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo via Türkiye Daily)

What happened

According to reports, the Volkswagen vehicle with license plate 34 FD 1236, driven by Ozden, collided with a parked tanker in the emergency lane
The impact left the car completely wrecked. Emergency teams, including paramedics, firefighters, and gendarmes, arrived at the scene
Both Ozden and Ozmen were pronounced dead at the site
The tanker driver was taken into custody as part of the ongoing investigation

A young woman in a gray coat standing by the waterfront, smiling with the sea, palm trees, and a clear blue sky in the background. — Lavinia Ozmen enjoying a moment by the sea, Türkiye, Feb. 2025. (Photo via Türkiye Daily)

TikTok influencer Lavinia Ozmen: Impact on social media

Gizem Ozmen, widely recognized as Lavinia Ozmen on TikTok, had 155,000 followers on the platform and 22,000 on Instagram. She gained recognition after sharing a childhood photo with the caption “trauma bowl,” a post in which she discussed past hardships.

Through her content, she aimed to support women who had faced similar difficulties, encouraging them to share their experiences anonymously. She referred to herself as the “The voice of silent battles, Lavinia.”

Her unexpected death has deeply saddened her followers. Many took to social media to express their grief and share their condolences.

A young woman with long brown hair wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses, smiling as she poses in front of a stone wall. — Lavinia Ozmen, known for her content on TikTok, posing in a black leather jacket before her tragic accident, Türkiye, February 2025. (Photo via Türkiye Daily)

Following the accident, Ozmen’s body was transferred to the Kirkagac State Hospital morgue. Her funeral took place in her hometown of Urla, Izmir, while Ozden was laid to rest in Istanbul.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash, including the positioning of the parked tanker and other potential contributing factors.