Yambol regional prosecutor Doychin Doychev told BNT that investigators do not yet have enough evidence to charge anyone over the pile-up on the Trakia motorway. "At this stage of the investigation, not enough evidence has been gathered to justify charging a specific person," he said.
On Thursday, Marian Marinov, acting head of the National Investigation Service, said 11 people died in the two pile-ups, not 12 as first reported. More than 50 people were hurt.
Police detained the Romanian driver of the first truck in the chain so they could question him again. They want to know why he slowed down, what the weather was like and how thick the fog was. No charges have been reported against him.
In his statements so far, the driver said the fog before the stretch was not especially thick, then suddenly turned very thick, so he braked hard to match the poor visibility. He has given no other reason.
Doychev said that at first glance human error is likely. Some witnesses say a number of drivers were speeding. Some of the vehicles left no braking marks, which the prosecutor said points to high speed.
More than 50 witnesses have been questioned.
"The law requires drivers to adjust how they drive to the weather and, if needed, slow down almost to a stop," Doychev said. He said the reasons the crash was not prevented are complex.
Investigators have asked the Road Infrastructure Agency for information on the stretch: how it was built, when it opened, how traffic is managed and what signs and markings it has. They also took samples of the road surface.
Next week, prosecutors will order an expert road-construction report on the state of the road surface and the markings on the stretch on the day of the crash. Once the agency sends its information, the material will be reviewed. Construction and technical expert reports may then be ordered.
Doychev said the agency or individual officials can be held responsible only after all the data from the agency arrives and the specific questions are answered.