Condition of Child Injured by Sofia 'Killer' Taxi Cab Worsens

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 condition of the six-year-old child who was injured in the horrific crash on Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd in Sofia late on Wednesday is worsening, according to doctors.

The child is listed at St Anna hospital in critical condition with a head trauma and a rupture of the intestinal tract.

She/he received over 4 liters of blood, but serious problems with coagulation have developed.

Doctors continue to monitor the child's condition round-the-clock and say Friday and Saturday will be the most critical days. The mother has been stabilized.

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 cab 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. The driver had been speeding, according to traffic police.

He 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 St Anna hospital with a cervical fracture and doctors were unable to save her.

In addition to the child and the mother, two other people remain in hospitals in serious condition.

It also emerged that the taxi cab driver who caused the crash 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 Wednesday evening. They registered close to 2 per mille alcohol level.

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