The car is automatic and I drove it on autopilot. It took a surprising left turn without me wanting it. My condolences to the relatives. I’m sorry for what I caused. Today I saw what kind of people I was with in detention on the walk and I got very stressed. I’m not like them. I won’t last there.
This was said by Atanas Andonov, accused of the accident near the village of Cherni vrah, in which 33-year-old Yanita Pepelyankova died.
Today in the District Court, the request for the imposition of a permanent measure of detention in custody was heard. The meeting was stopped several times because Andonov felt sick and had to sit for most of the time.
His sister was also present in the courtroom, who is convinced that the cause of the accident was technical, and that her brother was innocent. She also expressed her condolences to the blackened family, since Andonov did not have this opportunity.
“My brother did everything he could to prevent the accident from happening and stayed to the end to help the children. Everyone in the Citroen was without a seat belt, and the five-year-old child was also without a seat“, she also said.
The prosecutor’s office also confirmed that the car in which 33-year-old Yanita Pepelyankova was driving did not have seat belts on, but that this has nothing to do with the accusation.
The accused is retired due to illness, but still works. With a clean criminal record. His wife is a teacher.
Prosecutor Ivan Georgiev said in court that Andonov’s car entered the oncoming traffic lane and caused the accident. Thus, through carelessness, he caused the death of Yanita Pepelyankova. Witness statements indicated that after the collision, the BMW turned 180 degrees in the air and reached the branches of a tree.
The prosecutor’s office is adamant that this cannot happen if there is no speed limit. This still needs to be proven with the technical expertise.
If found guilty, Andonov could receive a sentence of 5 to 15 years in prison.
Andonov’s car was detected by traffic police cameras twice for speeding, as well as once for not obeying traffic signs. The defense countered that this did not prove that it was the accused who was behind the wheel at the time.
Andonov’s lawyer Veselina Vasileva announced that the allegations of excessive speed are subjective and only an expert can prove what it was, as well as whether maneuvers were made before the impact.
According to her, the police officers on the spot found that Andonov was in a condition that is not typical for drivers driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Andonov’s other lawyer, Maria Glushkova, clarified that he cooperated with the law enforcement authorities and gave an explanation for what happened. The accused himself is convinced that it is a technical malfunction of his car. He remained at the scene of the accident, tried to render aid and waited for the police to arrive.
„There is no evidence that the crash was caused by high speed. I specifically visited the road section where the accident happened and the speed limit there is 90 km/h. My defender’s car was traveling at 80 km/h” the lawyer said.
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