Sofia Bus Crash: Driver Accused of Intentional Recklessness, One Dead

Sofia, Bulgaria – A 21-year-old man is accused of intentionally causing a fatal crash in Sofia on August 15, 2025, that resulted in the death of a doctor and injuries to four others. The incident occurred at the intersection of Konstantin Velichkov and Vazkresenie boulevards.

Details of the Crash

The accused, identified as V. I., was driving an Audi RS5 at a dangerously high speed. Investigators determined he was traveling at approximately 163 km/h at the time of impact, despite a speed limit of 50 km/h. Prior to the crash, he had been driving at around 200 km/h according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

The car left the roadway, crossed tram tracks and collided with a bus stopped at a red light. The bus carried only one passenger, a Syrian citizen, who died as a result of the impact as reported by Novinite.

Driver’s Actions and Legal Status

The driver had only held a driver’s license for two weeks and had already accumulated six minor traffic violations according to Deputy Head of the Traffic Police, Martin Tsurinski. Witnesses reported that he was driving recklessly despite pleas from his three passengers to slow down.

Authorities also discovered the driver was inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” from balloons filled from a metal bottle he held in his lap.

V. I. Was detained by the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office on August 15, 2025, and remanded in custody until August 21, 2025 as stated by the Prosecutor’s Office. His driver’s license has been temporarily suspended.

Injuries and Hospitalizations

In addition to the fatality, four other people were injured in the crash. The bus driver and conductor were hospitalized, with the bus driver’s condition being life-threatening. Four individuals from the car were also treated: the driver sustained minor injuries, one passenger was released after treatment, and two young women are in serious condition as detailed by Novinite. Patients were transported to the Military Medical Academy and Pirogov Emergency Hospital.