The chain crash which occurred Monday morning at the Yana road junction near Sofia involved a TIR truck with a Romanian registration plate carrying oil, which cut into a number of cars which had slowed down, anticipating the traffic jam, according to Transport Minister Danail Papazov.

Papazov arrived at the site of the chain crash shortly after it had been reported, and the new road junction was launched without an official ceremony in the presence of ministers and the Chair of the Management Board of the Road Infrastructure Agency.

The Transport Minister told the Bulgarian National Radio that the crushed vehicles were a van, a very seriously damaged car, of which it was hard to tell the brand, and several less damaged trucks.

He emphasized that the rescue teams had responded very swiftly and the injured people had been taken to hospitals by ambulances as fast as possible.

Papazov said that steps were being taken to unclog the severely congested road at the site of the crash, adding that railings were being cut to allow the redirection of the traffic flow to Sofia.

He informed that the authorities would need at least a few hours to investigate the case, because the traffic accident was very serious, and pointed out that heavy equipment would be brought to the site to clear the road.

The Transport Minister also made clear that the fuel leaks on the road had to be cleared before the facility was launched.

The signal about the traffic accident at the Hemus Highway near the village of Yana in the direction of Sofia was received at around 11 am on Monday.

The chain car crash cancelled the official ceremony for the opening of the Yana road junction connecting the Hemus Highway to the Sofia Ring Road.

The crash involved three TIR trucks and four cars, three people died on the spot, and five were injured, according to reports of the Interior Ministry.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!