The chairman of the “Road Infrastructure” Agency, Eng. Yordan Valchev, was summoned for questioning at the National Investigation Service. This was confirmed to NOVA by the Road Agency. Its head appeared this morning and provided full cooperation.
The questioning is taking place within the framework of the investigation into the death of 12-year-old Siyana on the Lukovit-Pleven road and the information that there were dozens of signals for this section.
Eng. Valchev is one of the witnesses in it. It is not yet clear whether he will be charged.
Documents related to the construction and maintenance of the Lukovit-Pleven road were requested from him, BNR reported, citing its sources. Valchev was questioned only as a witness.
"If my resignation will stop children from dying, I will submit it immediately. But I think that will not happen", said Eng. Yordan Valchev at a briefing on Monday.
"The problems with the roads in our country have been going on for many years. And if my resignation will solve these problems, I am ready to submit it," he noted the day before.
After the tragedy, the Pleven District Prosecutor's Office initiated pre-trial proceedings to establish both the responsibility of the driver of the TIR truck that hit the car in which the child and his grandparents were, and the condition of the road section where the accident occurred.
By order of the acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, the investigation was assigned to the National Investigation Service.
Today, investigators took samples of the asphalt on the road where the accident occurred, in which 12-year-old Siyana died. The so-called “core” should show the depth and quality of the laid pavement and whether it was compromised. The degree of wear is not part of this expertise, the National Investigation Service indicated.
A few days ago, the “Road Infrastructure” Agency announced that the condition of the road is not that bad, but a major repair is still planned. The project for it was ready last year.
In parallel with the official investigation, the non-governmental sector also started one. They found several irregularities on the section between the villages of Radomirtsi and Telish.
According to Diana Rusinova from the European Center for Transport Policies, “this is a road with many problems”. Among them are:
- Lateral displacement of the asphalt coating – in places, ruts with a depth of almost 10 cm have formed, which is a prerequisite for water retention;
- Road signs that are more than 10 years old;
- Lack of reflective markings;
- Presence of grassed earth trenches and slopes, which prevents the drainage of the asphalt.
Last week, an investigative experiment was carried out at the scene of the accident with the same trailer that crushed the car in which Siyana's family was traveling. Numerous documents related to the condition of the road and the actions taken to repair it were seized from the Regional Road Administration. Speed limit signs were also placed at the scene.