Five dead after van crashed into lorry waiting to cross Danube Bridge 2 near Vidin

Five people have died and two are in hospital after a serious crash on the Vidin ring road in the direction of Danube Bridge 2 (North-Western Bulgaria).

A passenger van crashed into a truck that had stopped to wait its turn to cross the Danube Bridge 2.

The crash occured at a place where there is usually a line of waiting trucks because of the busy traffic to the bridge. The minibus and the lorry it crashed into are with Bulgarian registration.

The accident was reported at 21.30 on July 9.

Emergency medical teams were immediately sent to the scene.

The driver of the van - a 40-year-old man from the village of Banya and three of the passengers died at the scene, another passenger, 18 year-old, died in hospital. The deceased were two women and two men.

Two of the passengers of the crashed minibus were admitted to the hospital in Vidin and are in serious condition.

A 28-year-old man is in the intensive care unit. A 54-year-old woman is in the surgery ward. Her life is not in danger.

The driver of the heavy goods vehicle was in a line of lorries, about four kilometres away from the border and was waiting for his turn to cross the border crossing on Danube Bridge 2. At the collision, he hit his head on the windw. An ambulance was also sent for him. He was examined but had no serious injuries and did not wish to be taken to hospital.

The causes of the crash are being investigated.

There were no skid marks on the road. According to one of the versions, the driver of the van may have passed out or fallen asleep at the wheel.