Death toll rises in deadly crash in Sofia

A fourth person has died as a result of a horrific crash involving a bus and two cars that occurred on June 5 in Sofia.

In the incident, a car crashed into a public transport bus in the capital city. A man traveling on the bus died at the scene, and 25 people were reported injured. Later that evening, one of the seriously injured victims died in hospital, and on Saturday morning authorities confirmed a third fatality.

Two of those killed in the tragic crash were foreign nationals from India, Ivo Bikov of the Traffic Police Directorate of the Sofia Metropolitan Police told reporters, according to BTA.

Investigators are working on the theory that the crash was caused by a race between the drivers of the two cars moving at a speed of around 150 km/h according to police estimates. Two people were traveling in one of the vehicles involved, while three were in the other. All of them were either relatives or living together.

According to Sofia Deputy City Prosecutor Angel Kanev, the drivers of the passenger vehicles had criminal records and previous traffic violations, including speeding and driving without a license. They also did not attempt to assist the injured victims.

One of the two cars literally plowed into the bus and caught fire inside it. The passengers could have been burned alive if it had not been for the firefighters' exceptional professionalism, Deputy City Prosecutor Angel Kanev clarified:

"The evidence unequivocally shows that the drivers of the passenger vehicles were responsible for the traffic accident. They were likely racing or chasing one another, and following a collision between them, one of the vehicles struck the bus and overturned it. The speed was extremely high. The preliminary calculations - which are not yet definitive, as expert examinations are still to be conducted - indicate a speed of approximately 140–150 km/h (87–93 mph). One of the cars was literally split in two when it crashed into a pole and a public transport stop, where fortunately there were no people waiting. Half of the other vehicle is missing due to the impact.

"One of the drivers of the car that caused this serious road accident not only obstructed the rescue efforts of the fire brigade, but also behaved aggressively toward another participant in the crash, namely the bus driver," Prosecutor Kanev explained.

The prosecution will seek permanent detention ("detention in custody") for both drivers. The court is expected to consider the request on Monday.

The men will be charged with causing death in a traffic accident with intent. They are known to the police, and authorities are investigating whether they have criminal records in the Czech Republic, where their driver's licenses were issued. The authenticity of the licenses will also be examined to determine whether they are genuine.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova, R. Petkova