Driver plows through guardrail, kills spectator at race

Slavi Slavov announced on Sunday that the fatal accident at the Mountain Climb Aladzha Monastery competition occurred in a restricted area. The sports director stated that the zone had been cordoned off with safety tape and warning signs prohibiting spectator access. Slavov confirmed that officials inspected the course at 10:20 a.m. and found no bystanders present before the competition began.

Driver Neyko Neykov departed at 11:07 a.m., but race officials received reports of a crash one minute later. Slavov immediately deployed red flags to halt the event and dispatched ambulances stationed at the starting line and a nearby intersection. Emergency services received notification at 11:12 a.m. after officials discovered multiple casualties near the roadway.

Three ambulances arrived between 11:25 a.m. and 11:27 a.m. to transport injured spectators. Medical teams discovered victims positioned behind guardrails after entering through forest pathways. Slavov described the incident as a racing accident caused by excessive speed on the turn.

Officials confirmed that all casualties remained conscious at the scene. Pre-race protocols included alcohol testing for drivers, but organizers lacked drug screening capabilities.