A tragic traffic accident on the A25 highway near Wels, Austria, claimed the life of a 53-year-old Bulgarian man and left seven others injured after a minibus slammed into a stationary truck on Monday morning.
According to Austrian news agency APA, the crash occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time when a Romanian-registered van carrying eight Bulgarian nationals failed to notice a halted truck and violently collided with the rear of the vehicle.
Authorities confirmed that the truck, operated by a 47-year-old Austrian driver, had come to a complete stop due to a traffic jam and had activated its hazard lights.
The fatal victim, seated in the front passenger seat of the van, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. He sustained fatal injuries from the high-impact collision and could not be revived.
Austrian police later confirmed that the deceased was a Bulgarian national, though his name has not been released pending notification of family members.
The remaining seven passengers, also Bulgarian citizens, were rushed to nearby hospitals with varying degrees of injuries.
Local authorities have not provided further details on their conditions but confirmed that none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening at the time of transport.
The Romanian-registered minibus was traveling westbound along the A25 when the accident occurred, in an area where traffic had reportedly slowed to a standstill.
The reasons why the driver failed to notice the stopped truck remain unclear, but police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Technical inspections of both vehicles, witness statements, and the possibility of driver fatigue or distraction are among the areas being examined.
The incident prompted a significant emergency response, with ambulances, fire crews, and police rapidly deployed to the scene.
Traffic on the A25 was brought to a halt for several hours while emergency services attended to the injured and cleared the wreckage from the roadway.
A police spokesperson noted that the closure caused a several-kilometer-long traffic jam, further compounding the congestion in the region during morning rush hour.
Photos released by local media showed the front of the minibus crumpled against the rear of the truck, with shattered glass and debris scattered across the asphalt.
The force of the impact appeared to have been concentrated on the front passenger side, where the deceased was seated.
Bulgarian authorities have been notified of the accident and are reportedly in contact with Austrian officials to offer consular assistance to the injured passengers and to help coordinate the repatriation of the deceased.
The tragic crash underscores the ongoing risks associated with high-speed travel on European motorways and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and road safety, particularly in areas of congestion.
As investigations continue, Austrian police are urging drivers to maintain safe distances and remain alert to sudden traffic changes, especially when driving long distances or through unfamiliar routes.