A passenger bus operating the regular route from Sofia to Vidin narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a speeding heavy truck on the Botevgrad–Mezdra road on October 30, according to eyewitness accounts reported by Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) and regional outlets. The incident occurred at approximately 20:55 local time as the vehicle carried about 40 passengers through dense fog and rain near the village of Lyutidol.
Bus Driver Avoids Head-On Crash Near Lyutidol
The vehicle, operated by ET “Aleksiev – 91 VD”, had departed Sofia Central Bus Station roughly one hour behind schedule due to heavy congestion around the Topli Dol tunnel on the Hemus Motorway, balkanec.bg reported. Shortly after navigating the congested zone, the bus entered the Botevgrad–Mezdra road—an area impacted by ongoing construction and a posted speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour, as noted by BNT News.
Passenger Alexander Georgiev, speaking to BTA, recalled seeing a bright light in the opposing lane as the bus traveled along the wet roadway. A heavy truck registered in Turkey was reportedly overtaking another lorry at high speed in the restricted zone. Georgiev, seated in the second row, stated that the driver, named Stanislav, executed a sharp right turn toward the guardrail in a fraction of a second to prevent a direct impact.
“We saw our lives flash on a ribbon,” one passenger recounted to Focus News, describing how travelers screamed as the massive lorry barreled toward them. The heavy truck struck the front left side of the bus, shattering the windshield and breaking the side mirror, according to Bulgaria ON AIR. The driver sustained cuts to his hands and bleeding from his ear due to flying glass, while none of the 40 passengers—which included a pregnant woman and a person with disabilities—sustained physical injuries.
Contrasting Accounts of the Aftermath and Investigation
Reports regarding the immediate aftermath of the collision diverge across regional and national media. While eyewitness Georgiev stated to BTA that the truck did not stop and was allegedly intercepted by police roughly 15 kilometers away, other participating outlets such as BNT News and balkanec.bg focused strictly on the emergency response and the dangerous road conditions caused by thick fog. Police and emergency medical teams arrived approximately half an hour after the initial call to 112, during which heavy freight traffic continued to pass the disabled passenger vehicle.
Passengers subsequently shared photographs and video footage on Facebook groups, with traveler Lyubomir Петков publicly thanking driver Stanislav for his swift evasive maneuvers.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Botevgrad–Mezdra Road Incident
How many people were on board the Sofia–Vidin bus?
Approximately 40 passengers were traveling on the scheduled route when the collision occurred, according to BTA and balkanec.bg reports.
What caused the delay before the accident?
The bus departed Sofia Central Bus Station with a one-hour delay caused by heavy traffic congestion around the Topli Dol tunnel on the Hemus Motorway, as reported by balkanec.bg.
Were any passengers injured during the collision?
No passengers were injured in the crash, though the driver suffered cuts from broken glass, according to eyewitness accounts gathered by BTA.
When did the incident take place?
The crash happened on the evening of October 30 at approximately 20:55, as detailed by regional reports from Focus News and BNT News.
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