Bulgaria investigates fatal truck crash on Trakia highway near Karnobat
A heavy truck travelling towards Sofia ruptured the safety barrier (mantinel) on the Trakia highway near the village of Karnobat, entered oncoming traffic and struck two light cars. One driver, 40‑year‑old Chavdar Chanev, was killed on the spot; two other men, aged 29 and 46, were injured but are now in stable condition.
The truck driver, identified as A.I., was detained by the Burgas District Prosecutor’s Office for up to 72 hours and charged with causing death by negligence and causing bodily injury to two others. His driver’s licence was also confiscated.
Officials said the barrier, installed in 2014, was designed for vehicles up to about 1.5‑1.6 tonnes, far below the weight of the empty 16‑17‑tonne truck. Engineer Mitko Poryazov of the Regional Road Administration explained that the “double‑wave” barrier should stop vehicles above 1 600 kg, but it failed when the truck, possibly after a tyre burst or driver fatigue, broke through at a speed of around 97 km/h.
The incident prompted a site inspection by Regional Minister Ivan Shishkov, who vowed stricter safety measures and a phased replacement of the outdated barriers with newer systems that meet the 2024 regulations. Investigators are also analysing the driver’s blood‑alcohol and drug test results and examining the tyre fragments.