Bus slams into burning trucks in Bulgaria; Ruse-Sofia road closed, 38 passengers safe
Two heavy trucks collided and caught fire overnight near Veliko Tarnovo before an international bus crashed into them. All 38 passengers got out in time. The fate of the truck drivers is unclear.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
A serious crash blocked the main road between Ruse and Sofia overnight into Wednesday. Two heavy trucks collided and caught fire at around 2:30 a.m. between the villages of Strahilovo and Maslarevo, police in Veliko Tarnovo said. An international passenger bus then crashed into them and also burst into flames.
All 38 bus passengers got out before the vehicle burned, according to police, with reports of minor injuries. The fate of the two truck drivers remained unclear: initial information suggested they may have died, but that had not been confirmed by morning. Police said the cause and the exact number of people affected were still being established and that the information was preliminary.
Firefighters, paramedics and police were at the scene. The road was closed in both directions, with traffic diverted through nearby villages. Authorities did not immediately say where the bus was from or what route it was traveling.