Karnobat is mourning Margarita Paskaleva, for many years head teacher of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Secondary School. She died on 9 November on the Trakia motorway, at the 341km mark in the direction of Burgas. Mayor Georgi Dimitrov, the school staff and pupils sent their condolences.
A witness first reported the crash on Monday. At 17:11 police confirmed that the woman driving a Honda had died.
How it began: Serious crash on the Trakia motorway near Karnobat, witness reports a woman dead
Paskaleva was 63. An Audi Q8 SUV hit her from behind as she was driving. Police are still working to establish the cause of the crash.
Mayor Dimitrov sent a message of condolence to her family, friends, colleagues and pupils. "We have lost a person with a huge heart, outstanding professionalism and a lively spirit of the Bulgarian National Revival," he wrote.
He said Paskaleva spent her whole career in Bulgarian education and was a role model for generations of pupils and teachers. As head teacher, she built the school's history, kept its traditions and inspired faith in knowledge.
Dimitrov also wrote that pupils saw in her an example of wisdom and dignity, while colleagues saw a pillar of support and a demanding but very fair leader. He said she leaves a lasting mark on everyone who worked and studied under her, and was an example of dedication and responsibility. He is sure her name will live on in the memory of the school community. The message ends with "We bow to her bright memory!"
The school staff also said goodbye in a public message. Her colleagues wrote that she spent her whole career serving education, the pupils and the school community. They will remember her for her humanity, kindness, responsibility, dedication, respect and care for everyone. They said Paskaleva stood by her pupils and colleagues not only as a leader, but as a person.
The message reads: "Teachers do not die! They live forever in the hearts of their pupils!"
A pupil from the school wrote a letter calling the head teacher an awakener. She said Paskaleva backed pupils' own initiatives and showed that education has room for humanity, attention and personal example, alongside grades.
Over the years Paskaleva developed one of the best-established schools in the municipality and taught children to believe in themselves. In 2020 Karnobat municipality named her "Head Teacher of the Year", and in May 2026 she received an award for her contribution to education in Burgas region.