Sofia Driver Commits Suicide before Stunned Passengers

Police are investigating the suicide of a Sofia public transportation driver who jumped from a bridge while on duty. Photo by Nadya Kotseva, Sofia Photo Agency

The driver of a Sofia trolley jumped to his death Tuesday morning from the "Chavdar" bridge in the capital.

The man, Plamen Gunev, 50, died immediately. The driver of the trolley, serving the number 2 line of the city's public transportation, connecting the "Buxton" and "Hadzhi Dimitar" districts through downtown Sofia, stopped the vehicle at the bridge, opened the door, climbed on the railing and jumped before the very eyes of the four passengers inside.

The incident happened at 9:18 am, while the call had been placed with the emergency 112 hotline some 30 minutes later.

The authorities are conducting a search of the location and are probing the case.

The city's public transportation did not experience delays over the tragic incident and is running on time.

Gunev has been employed with Sofia public transportation since 2007, after relocating to the capital from Veliko Tarnovo. He has never been sanctioned, and has a family. It remains unclear what pushed him to commit suicide.

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