12 killed as 86 vehicles collide in fog in Bulgaria:46 injured, highway closed; President cuts short Paris trip to return home

A major road accident involving 86 vehicles occurred in Bulgaria on Tuesday because of dense fog. The vehicles collided on the highway connecting the capital Sofia with the Black Sea port city of Burgas. Twelve people were killed and 46 injured in the accident. The highway was closed in both directions. The accident also prompted Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova to cut short her foreign trip. She had travelled to Paris to attend the Paris Peace Forum, but after receiving news of the accident, she left the event and decided to return to Bulgaria. Six pictures from after the accident Vehicles collided on both sides of the highway Health Minister Katya Ivkova said 10 people died at the scene, while two others died on the way to hospital. The injured have been admitted to hospitals for treatment. Several heavy trucks were among the vehicles damaged in the accident. Two major accidents occurred at the same spot, in the lanes on both sides of the highway. High speeds also contributed to the accident Police have launched an investigation into the incident. According to the preliminary investigation, a sudden thick fog made it difficult to see on the road. In addition, the vehicles were travelling at very high speeds. These factors may have caused the accident. Regional Governor Mihail Kasherov visited the scene and said it was difficult to describe what he had witnessed. He said he had never seen anything like it before. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also visiting Bulgaria on Tuesday. After the accident, Prime Minister Rumen Radev left his meeting with her and set off for the scene. ​