Sofia, Bulgaria— Three people died and 19 were injured after 15 separate road crashes were reported across Bulgaria in the past 24 hours. Traffic police said the toll came in a single, unusually heavy day.
Burgas Media first reported the series late Wednesday, citing regional directorates. The crashes stretched from the Black Sea coast to the Sofia ring road. Officers logged collisions in Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and on the Hemus motorway.
Police said two of the fatal crashes happened within hours in the afternoon. One was a head-on collision on a two-lane road outside Sliven. Another involved a pedestrian struck near Pazardzhik. The third death came overnight near Pleven after a car left the road.
Nineteen people were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from fractures to head trauma. At least four remain in serious condition. Emergency centers in Sofia and Burgas said some victims were trapped and had to be cut from vehicles.
Traffic officers pointed to a mix of factors. Rain left several sections slick. Several drivers were traveling above the limit. One driver tested positive for alcohol. Investigators are still checking dashcams and tachographs from trucks involved.
The Ministry of Interior said patrols had already been increased for the end-of-month travel period. Officers issued dozens of citations for speeding and failure to yield. The number of crashes still rose sharply compared with the previous Wednesday.
Burgas police closed one stretch of the coastal road for three hours after a chain crash involving four cars. Witnesses said visibility dropped quickly. Tow trucks cleared the lane while forensic teams marked braking traces.
A police spokesperson said drivers were cutting corners on wet curves and misjudging stopping distances. He urged people to check tires and keep distance. The ministry said it would publish a breakdown of locations and causes Thursday.
The roads were reopened by evening. Investigators remain at three sites to complete measurements before files go to prosecutors.
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