site.btaTraffic Camera Footage Points to Technical Fault in Sofia Bus Crash

Footage from traffic cameras suggests the crash was most likely caused by a technical malfunction, acting Sofia Police Director Chief Commissioner Nikolay Peltekov told reporters after a city bus crossed the central barrier and entered oncoming traffic on Tsarigradsko Shose Boulevard in Sofia on Monday.

Peltekov said both the driver and witnesses indicated a technical fault was the likely cause, but stressed that investigators and expert examinations would determine the exact circumstances. He added that the bus had passed a technical inspection on July 21 and had been certified as roadworthy. If experts conclude that the vehicle was not fit for service, those responsible for certifying it will be held accountable, he emphasized. Authorities will also review the bus's CCTV footage, although it cannot yet be retrieved because of a fuel leak.

The 59-year-old driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs following the crash. He has a record of three minor traffic accidents and four speeding offences, although it was not specified whether these occurred while he was employed as a public transport driver. Sofia Municipality added that the driver had been off work from July 22 to 26, including three days of leave and two scheduled rest days, and had returned for his first shift after the break on July 27.

Sofia Municipality ordered a full investigation into the crash and apologised to those injured and everyone affected by the incident, extending wishes for a speedy recovery.