2009 Yambol bus crash
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Yambol bus crash occurred on 28 May 2009 near the city of Yambol
in southeastern Bulgaria
. Eighteen people died, and at least 20 were injured.
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 Gospodinov Dimitrov, was legally sober. The bus driver was heavily injured and transported to Sofia
to be treated at Pirogov Hospital
.
Most of the victims were over 60 years old, though one victim was a 16-year-old boy. Thirteen of those killed were women and five were men; all victims were either from Yambol or the nearby villages. More than 15 people were injured; four were initially in a life-threatening condition due to head trauma.
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. The National Assembly of Bulgaria
observed a minute of silence as the news broke out. President Georgi Parvanov
and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev changed their schedules and headed to the scene of the accident, their offices said.
Yambol
Yambol is a city in southeastern Bulgaria, an administrative centre of Yambol Province. It lies on both banks of the Tundzha river in the historical region of Thrace. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 72,843 inhabitants. It is occasionally spelt 'Jambol'.The administrative centres...
in southeastern Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Eighteen people died, and at least 20 were injured.
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 ChavdarChavdar (company)
Chavdar is a trademark and name of a Bulgarian coachbuilding company in Botevgrad. Founded by Racho Dzhambov, the company that would later become "Chavdar" produced around 200 buses between 1927 and 1947; on chassis' from Ford Motor Company, Mercedes-Benz, and Dodge. In 1948 the state took...
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
Alexander Nevsky
Alexander Nevsky was the Prince of Novgorod and Grand Prince of Vladimir during some of the most trying times in the city's history. Commonly regarded as the key figure of medieval Rus, Alexander was the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest and rose to legendary status on account of his military...
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 Gospodinov Dimitrov, was legally sober. The bus driver was heavily injured and transported to Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
to be treated at Pirogov Hospital
Pirogov Hospital
Pirogov Hospital is a large hospital for active treatment and emergency medicine in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was founded in 1951 and has a capacity of 795 hospital beds, 33 clinics and departments and employed 2,418 medical and other staff...
.
Most of the victims were over 60 years old, though one victim was a 16-year-old boy. Thirteen of those killed were women and five were men; all victims were either from Yambol or the nearby villages. More than 15 people were injured; four were initially in a life-threatening condition due to head trauma.
Reaction
29 May was declared a national day of mourningNational day of mourning
A national day of mourning is a day marked by mourning and memorial activities observed among the majority of a country's populace. They are designated by that nation's government...
in Bulgaria. Political parties in the country and their leaders have cancelled their European Parliament election
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
campaign events in the next few days due to the disaster. The National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
observed a minute of silence as the news broke out. President Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a President of Bulgaria, whose second and last mandate expires on January 22, 2012; he was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office on January 22, 2002...
and Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev changed their schedules and headed to the scene of the accident, their offices said.