Bus veered off the road in Bulgaria; driver’s distraction most likely

The driver's distraction is the most likely cause of the road accident last night, in which a bus with Serbian registration veered off the Trakia motorway at the 216th kilometres on the road to Sofia.

One of the elderly passengers felt ill and asked to be moved forward, according to the Serbian group leader Natasha. The driver started to show him how to adjust the seat back and this caused the bus to veer off the road.

Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev and his deputy Borislav Sarafov, director of the National Investigation Service, arrived on the scene last night.

The caretaker Minister of Health Dr. Asen Medzhidiev said 14 people were being treated at Stara Zagora hospital at the moment of 2 adults and 12 children. Two of the children are in serious serious condition and will most likely be transferred with a specialized team to the Pirogov emergency hospital in Sofia. Adults are in good health for now. One of those who had to undergo limb amputation is in stable condition. Ambulances are used to transport children and adults who are in good condition to the border where the Serbian authorities will take over.

Minister Medzhidiev thanked all medical staff for their swift response and for the adequate assistance given to the people injured in the crash, and to all members of the public who helped on the scene. Minister Medzhidiev and Serbia's Minister of Health Zlatibor Lon visited the injured passengers in the hospital. Minister Lon thanked his Bulgarian counterpart for the support.