Bulgaria highway crash kills two children, father blames overloaded truck and corrupt road‑safety system

A severe collision on the Trakia motorway near Karnobat resulted in the deaths of two children and a third adult. Nikolay Popov, father of a previous victim named Siyana, accused the authorities of systemic negligence and a “PТП mafia” that includes lawyers, prosecutors and judges profiting from compensation payouts. He rejected the official explanation that a punctured tyre caused the crash, insisting the truck was overloaded with grain and therefore technically unfit to operate.

Popov said the overloading of cargo trucks is a known but ignored problem, adding that drivers and transport companies are pressured to ignore safety limits. He criticised the lack of effective investigations and enforcement, and described facing personal attacks for speaking out. His comments highlight ongoing concerns over road‑safety enforcement and accountability in Bulgaria.