An employee of the state-owned road maintenance company “Avtomagistrali” died on October 13 after being struck by a vehicle on the 27th kilometer of Hemus Motorway (Trakiya Motorway) near Vakarel while securing the site of a prior traffic accident. Two other people sustained injuries in the multi-vehicle collision, which BNT News reported stemmed initially from hydroplaning conditions on the roadway.
Fatal Collision on Trakiya Motorway
The tragedy unfolded at approximately 2:30 p.m. in the Sofia-bound lanes of Trakiya Motorway, according to reports compiled by 24chasa.bg. Two passenger cars initially collided in the wet conditions, prompting the drivers to move their vehicles to the emergency lane and step behind the guardrail into a ditch to exchange bilateral protocols. Police officers and two “Avtomagistrali” maintenance workers arrived shortly afterward to set up road cones and secure the crash zone.
While the crew worked in the emergency lane, another approaching vehicle lost control and plowed into the parked cars, striking both maintenance employees. Stolica.BG reported that the impact caused three of the involved automobiles to catch fire. One worker died at the scene, while a second employee sustained severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital, as detailed by 24chasa.bg. The driver of one of the initial crashed vehicles also suffered a concussion and minor bruises, remaining hospitalized under observation, according to btvnovinite.bg.
Conflicting Outlet Accounts and Traffic Disruption
Reporting on the incident revealed discrepancies among regional traffic feeds regarding the exact location and direction of the initial chaos. While BNT News and 24chasa.bg placed the fatal crash at kilometer 27 in the Sofia-bound lane, the Road Infrastructure Agency (API) initially directed public attention to traffic restrictions in the opposite carriageway toward Burgas near kilometer 49 due to a separate incident. Stolica.BG noted that road expert Diana Rusinova pointed to the Sofia direction while various social media video uploads depicted multiple vehicles beyond the safety barriers near Vakarel, including one engulfed in flames.
The aftermath paralyzed regional traffic. Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs (ODMVR – Sofia) confirmed that investigators administered alcohol and drug tests to all surviving participants in the pileup, with every result returning negative. Authorities subsequently opened a formal pre-trial proceeding to determine exact liability. Meanwhile, traffic jams stretching over 10 kilometers formed toward Sofia in the Ihtiman region as “Road Police” diverted vehicles.
Road Infrastructure Safety Debate
The disaster ignited sharp criticism from traffic safety advocates regarding chronic infrastructure degradation along Bulgaria’s primary highway network. Diana Rusinova of the European Center for Transport Policies stated via btvnovinite.bg that a renovation project for this specific stretch of Trakiya Motorway has languished for two years. She asserted that the asphalt surface is severely worn, highly polished, and holds water in a microfilm layer that triggers uncontrollable hydroplaning during normal rainfall.
Contrasting the official warnings about driver speed, Rusinova argued that motorists cannot safely navigate conditions that violate national engineering norms. She revealed that she passed through the exact segment just 40 minutes before the fatal incident, witnessing another prior crash and predicting further disaster. Local authorities have not yet issued a formal response addressing the specific state of the asphalt surface at the 27th kilometer, though “Avtomagistrali” confirmed the fatality involving their personnel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the initial accident that brought the maintenance crew to the scene?
According to reports from BNT News and road safety experts citing preliminary findings, the first collision resulted from hydroplaning as vehicles encountered a water film on the worn asphalt surface during rain.
What happened to the drivers and workers involved in the secondary strike?
A “Bentley” and another out-of-control vehicle plowed into the parked cars and the two “Avtomagistrali” employees standing nearby, killing one worker on the spot and hospitalizing a second in severe condition, alongside a driver who suffered a concussion, 24chasa.bg and btvnovinite.bg reported.
Were the drivers involved under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
No. According to law enforcement agencies cited by btvnovinite.bg, breathalyzer and drug tests administered to all surviving participants yielded entirely negative results.