Driver of Sofia 'Killer' Taxi Cab with 7 Past Traffic Citations

The Wednesday evening crash which killed one and injured 11 others is the most serious traffic incident in the Bulgarian capital Sofia in recent years. Photo by BGNES

The taxi cab driver who caused the horrific crash on Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd in Sofia late on Wednesday had seven citations for traffic violations.

The information was reported at a briefing Thursday by Ivo Kirilov, Head of Traffic Control at Sofia's Traffic Police.

In 1998, the driver, Mihail Kurtev, had been caught and convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol. He has been penalized by a fine and a temporary revocation of his driver's license.

Other violations include expired documents and parking violations.

Police are yet to say if there was a passenger in the taxi cab Wednesday evening.

All sanctions against Kurtev have expired due to prescription and by 2011 – 2012 he has been an impeccable driver without any new penalties and all fines paid and punishments served.

The results from the blood test confirmed suspicions of DUI and the finding of the Breathalyzer administered last evening. They registered close to 2 per mille alcohol level.

The serious traffic accident occurred around 8:20 pm on Wednesday at the bus stop in front of the "The Mall" shopping center on Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd.

A taxi heading for the city center suffered a flat tire, spun out of control, and rammed into a bus stop full of people, leaving 12 injured. Kurtev had been speeding, according to traffic police.

The taxi driver was detained by the police. He has been very calm and composed during the interrogation, the Bulgarian National Radio reports. The prosecution has already pressed charges against him.

A woman aged 27 died in hospital after the horrific crash. She was taken to the Sveta Anna hospital with a cervical fracture and doctors were unable to save her.

A six-year-old child with a head trauma and a rupture of the intestinal tract continues to be in critical condition; the mother has been stabilized.

Two other people remain in hospitals in serious condition.

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