Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Office asks Macedonian counterparts for further questioning of survivors and relatives of victims in Struma bus crash
Sofia, 30 August 2022 (MIA) – Spokesperson of Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Office, Siika Mileva, said the preliminary investigation into the bus crash on the Struma highway that killed 46 people has stopped. According to MIA’s Sofia correspondent, Mileva told BNT the reason for this is because Bulgarian prosecutors have asked their counterparts in North Macedonia for further questioning. Mileva said the investigation so far has established new facts related to what had happened during the fatal night.
On the night between November 22 and 23, 2021, the bus burned completely, but not from the four fuel tanks that the Macedonian driver was transporting. The fuel tanks are not the cause, as they have remained intact. The protective barrier had blocked the door shut as the passengers were desperately trying to get out of the bus that crashed in flames.
Mileva said it was a terrible tragedy that will remain in the memory. “This is an unprecedented and unique case in history. The investigation at the site of the accident lasted more than 24 hours, starting in the dark early morning on the day of the accident and ending at night. Six investigators and three prosecutors were on the case, and collection of evidence was completed in just 10 days,” said Mileva, adding that it was a precedent for the Prosecutor’s Office to return the bodies of the victims by plane.
“All items found in the investigation were returned, each item sealed separately. Forty-five autopsies were performed. Biological material was taken in all of them, obtaining DNA profile. With a request for legal assistance to the judicial authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia, the relatives of the victims were also identified, and their DNA samples were also taken,” Mileva noted.
In seven days, the DNA samples were analyzed to identify the victims. A complex fire-technical expertise, as well as a forensic-medical expertise was carried out to determine the cause of death of the passengers. It was found that most of the passengers died of suffocation from the fire and thermal shock. In the case there were two events - and accident and a fire. As a result of the accident, a fire broke out. The expertise conclusion found that the Macedonian driver drove the bus at disproportionate and high speed, due to which he lost control of the bus. Mileva said her colleagues also considered possibility of a terrorist act. Chemical expertise was also conducted, which firmly established there was no sign of explosive devices on the bus from North Macedonia. The Macedonian authorities, Mileva added, fully cooperated in the investigation into this fatal case.
“We have very good friendly and professional relations with them. I also thank the authorities of the Ministry of Interior and the firefighters who fully cooperated in the investigation. The chief prosecutor rewarded the investigators and forensic experts who worked on the case for its swift completion,” said Mileva.
The Spokesperson of Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General Office said the preliminary investigation procedure has currently stopped because a second request for legal assistance has been prepared to the Macedonian investigators. According to her, survivors of the accident and relatives of the victims should be called for questioning.
“Everyone should be familiar with their rights and obligations according to the Bulgarian criminal process and whether they want to be handed over material from the investigation, as well as be informed about the course of the criminal procedure,” said Mileva.
About 30 witnesses have been questioned in this criminal procedure in Bulgaria, including the driver of the Macedonian bus, the surviving passengers, as well as eyewitnesses. According to Mileva, it is now the turn of the prosecutor's office in North Macedonia.
