Scots holiday woman dies in horror crash

Published on Friday 2 July 2010 14:33

A SCOTTISH woman has died after being struck by a concrete mixer truck while on holiday in Bulgaria.

Rosemary Cockburn was killed instantly after the vehicle mounted the pavement in a popular Black Sea resort.

The 64-year-old's husband, James, 56, was injured in the horror accident, and remains in hospital.

Shocked eyewitnesses claim the vehicle was travelling at high speed in an attempt to outrun police when it collided into the Cockburns.

The couple were part of a group standing on the pavement outside in a hotel in their resort when the truck attempted to make a turn, but overturned and careered into the tourists, before hitting the building.

One eyewitness told a local Bulgarian television channel: "It was horrible. The cement mixer was so heavy that the woman was completely cut in half. Her husband did not look so badly hurt but I saw them taking him away in an ambulance to hospital."

Last night, the Foreign Office confirmed the death of a British national, and said next of kin had been informed. It is understood that Mr Cockburn's injuries are not life threatening.

Bulgarian authorities are continuing to investigate the accident, which took place in Sveti Vlas at around 8pm on Thursday evening.

The coastal resort, located at the foothills of the Balkan mountain range, is a popular destination with British tourists.

The driver of the truck, who was arrested at the scene, has tested negative for drink driving.

The vehicle, which was carrying 40 tonnes of cement, is owned by the Burgas-based firm, Domostroene.

No one at the company was available for comment last night, but it is understood the driver may have been working for an illegal construction project, and was smuggling concrete into the region.

After complaints from tourists, authorities in Black Sea area have banned construction projects during the peak holiday season, with no work vehicles allowed to enter resorts.

However, several firms have attempted to get around the ban in recent months and carry out the work illegally.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm the death of a British national and the hospitalisation of another in Bulgaria. Next of kin have been informed and we are providing consular assistance. Local authorities in Bulgaria are investigating."

The accident is just the latest in a spate of road deaths in the popular tourist destination.

Between January to June, 342 people have been killed in road accidents in Bulgaria.

The startling figure represents an improvement of last year's death toll of 394 over the same period.

However, interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said this week that police were being given extra resources to tackle the problem.

"Since February the police has been implementing a plan for people's safety on the road during the summer," he said.

"Unfortunately, the killed and injured people on the road are still many.".