, the collision occurred around 9:00 a.m. at the junction of Peshtersko Shose Boulevard and Lerin Street){kind=link}
PLOVDIV — A dramatic traffic accident at a busy intersection in Plovdiv on Wednesday morning resulted in one car plowing into a shop after being struck by another vehicle whose driver fled the scene.
According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), the collision occurred around 9:00 a.m. at the junction of Peshtersko Shose Boulevard and Lerin Street.
The force of the crash caused one of the vehicles to veer off the road and slam into the front of a nearby retail store, shattering glass and damaging the shop’s façade.
Fortunately, no one inside the store was injured at the time of impact, and authorities confirmed that there were no serious injuries reported among those involved in the accident.
Police from the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior quickly responded to the scene and cordoned off the area to manage traffic and begin an investigation.
The accident led to significant traffic congestion in the vicinity, as emergency responders worked to clear the damaged vehicle and debris from the road.
Eyewitnesses told local media that the car responsible for the collision was registered in Haskovo and fled immediately after striking the other vehicle.
Bystanders said they were shocked to see the driver speed off without stopping to check on the other party or assess the damage.
Authorities launched a search for the vehicle and successfully located it less than an hour later. The 70-year-old man behind the wheel was brought back to the scene by police officers.
Speaking to reporters, the driver admitted that he panicked and left because he was frightened and disoriented by the incident.
“I didn’t know what to do. I was scared and just kept driving,” the man said. “I had a medical appointment at the St. George University Hospital and went straight there after the crash.”
While the man’s explanation appeared to reflect distress rather than malice, police have opened an official investigation into the circumstances of the crash and his decision to leave the scene.
Officers from the Second Regional Police Department are currently gathering eyewitness testimonies and reviewing CCTV footage from the area to establish the precise sequence of events.
The accident has raised concerns about the safety of the Peshtersko Shose and Lerin Street intersection, which residents say is prone to congestion and frequent near-misses.
No structural damage to the building was reported beyond the broken storefront, but the shop remained closed for repairs as of midday.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether charges will be filed against the elderly driver. The results of the ongoing investigation will determine the next legal steps.
Meanwhile, traffic in the area continues to be heavily affected, with police urging drivers to avoid the intersection while cleanup and investigative efforts are underway.