Bulgarian Prosecutor-General: Speeding is leading suspected cause of fatal blast in Hitrino
Speeding remains the leading suspected cause of the fatal gas tank transport train explosion in Hitrino, Bulgarian Prosecutor-General Sotir Tsatsarov said during a visit to the village on December 13.
Tsatsarov said that all theories about the accident were being examined, but added that it was being ruled out that the accident had been caused deliberately.
Seven people died and close to 30 were seriously injured in the December 10 explosion, which also destroyed 26 houses and other buildings, including the municipal office and the Hitrino railway station building.
Tsatsarov said that 31 witnesses had been questioned. All video and photo materials relevant to the investigation had been seized, he said.
The train had arrived at the station 15 minutes early, Tsatsarov noted.
He said that one of the leading theories was that the train had been travelling at a speed far above the speed limits for entering the station.
“We can commit to an official statement only after we have the forensics,” Tsatsarov said.
/Panorama