2009 Yambol bus crash
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| 2009 Yambol bus crash | |
|---|---|
 Location of Yambol in Bulgaria | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Date | May 28, 2009 |
| Location | Road to Bakadzhik Pk. near Yambol Bulgaria |
| Statistics | |
| Deaths | 17[1] |
| Injured | at least 20[1] |
The 2009 Yambol bus crash occurred on 28 May 2009 near the city of Yambol in southeastern Bulgaria. Sixteen people are reported to have died, and at least 20 were injured.[2]
Incident
The victims had been walking up the Bakadzhik peak to attend a traditional Ascension Day (Spasovden) feast and fair held on the summit. Around 9:15 AM local time the bus, a Chavdar 11 operated by the Yambol transport company MCI Slavi Slavov, crashed into a group of pedestrians while descending from a tour to the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church located at the summit. Although the bus had been declared roadworthy on 12 May, some speculate that the cause for the accident may have been brake failure. Other factors that contributed to the tragedy were the narrow road, the high speed and the damp asphalt. The driver, 60-year-old Gospodin Gospodinov, was legally sober.[3] The bus driver was heavily injured and transported to Sofia to be treated at Pirogov Hospital.[4]
Most of the victims were over 60 years old, though one victim was a 16-year-old boy. Eleven of those killed were women and five were men;[2] all victims were either from Yambol or the nearby villages. More than 15 people were injured; four are in a life-threatening condition due to head trauma.[4]
Reaction
29 May was declared a national day of mourning in Bulgaria. Political parties in the country and their leaders have cancelled their European Parliament election campaign events in the next few days due to the disaster.[5] The National Assembly of Bulgaria observed a minute of silence as the news broke out.[2] President Georgi Parvanov and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev changed their schedules and headed to the scene of the accident, their offices said.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Death Toll of Bulgaria Hellish Bus Crash Hits 16". Sofia News Agency. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ a b c Bulgaria bus crash leaves 16 dead (BBC)
- ^ "Катастрофа с автобус в Ямболско, жертвите вече са 16" (in Bulgarian). Дневник. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ a b "Трагедия край Ямбол" (in Bulgarian). News.bg. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ Иванова, Ива (2009-05-28). "29 май — Ден на национален траур" (in Bulgarian). News.bg. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
- ^ Bulgaria Bus Crash Kills at Least 16 (CBS News)