Bus Crash and Truck Collision Blocks Route Near Strahilov
Two transport trucks collided and caught fire early Wednesday morning, blocking an overnight passenger bus travelling between the Bulgarian villages of Strahilov and Maslarevo at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time, nrk.no reported. Passengers aboard the bus described waking up to shouting moments before the impact forced them to break windows to escape advancing flames. The drivers of the two transport trucks died in the crash.
Passengers Break Windows to Escape Burning Bus
Olena Hætta recalled waking up just seconds before the collision shook the vehicle. “I just woke up because people were shouting. A few seconds later we crashed,” she told nrk.no. She noticed a large fire outside the bus immediately after the impact and smelled fuel inside the cabin. Because the flames blocked the right side of the vehicle, passengers had to use physical force to create an escape route. “My boyfriend and the others had to smash the windows so we could get out,” Hætta said. “The drop to the ground from the window was terrifying, I almost didn’t dare to jump.” Øystein Haukaas, described the chaotic scene turning to automatic reactions as smoke and heat filled the interior. Before exiting himself, Haukaas discovered an injured man lying alone on the floor and helped carry him out. “I couldn’t have lived with the guilt if I had left the injured man behind in the bus,” he said.
Traffic Safety Standards in Norway and Bulgaria
A 2026 report from the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) ranks Norway among the safest countries for road users in Europe, while Bulgaria records some of the highest traffic fatality risks on the continent. Bulgarian road accidents claimed 456 lives in 2025, compared to 106 fatalities recorded on Norwegian roads during the same period. Despite higher comparative risk, ETSC data indicates safety improvements within Bulgaria over the past decade, showing a nearly 36 percent reduction in traffic deaths and setting a national target to halve traffic casualties by 2030.
Travel Plans Continue Despite the Trauma
Hætta and Haukaas decided to continue their travels despite the psychological impact of the midnight collision. “I feel a real lump in my stomach,” Hætta said regarding the aftermath of the crash. “But we want to try to continue and have as nice a trip as possible, despite what happened.” The couple stated they do not judge Bulgaria as a country based on the incident and expressed relief over surviving the crash, while authorities in Veliko Tarnovo provide information regarding the burning trucks.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bulgaria Bus Accident
What caused the midnight collision on the Bulgarian road?
Bulgarian media reports indicate that two transport trucks collided and caught fire first, blocking the roadway before the passenger bus crashed into them at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
Who were the fatalities in the crash?
The drivers of the two transport trucks died in the crash.
How did passengers evacuate the burning vehicle?
With the right side of the bus blocked by a large fire, passengers used physical force to break windows and jump to the ground, while surviving passengers helped pull an injured man from the cabin floor.
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