 A city of 1.2 million people has become a death trap for pedestrians if a series of recent tragedies are proof. 'Protect your children,' the mother of a teenage boy who was killed in a gut-wrenching car crash over the weekend appealed to other parents at a demonstration against Bulgarian authorities. Her son, Filip, died on Saturday evening when a swerving Mercedes ploughed into him in the centre of Sofia, dragging his body behind. Behind the wheel of the car was a man so drunk that he only drove a few hundred meters before slamming into the 15-year-old who was crossing a pedestrian lane. Filip's mother at a demonstration at the spot where he was killed (Picture: Bulphoto) Friends consoled the distraught the parent (Picture: Bulphoto) Local media reported that the 37-year-old's blood alcohol level was at least four times above what is legally permitted in the Balkan country. Witnesses claimed he was racing down General Gurko Street just after 9pm when the incident happened. Paramedics rushed to the scene where a crowd had already gathered, but Filip was pronounced dead not long after. Police arrested the man and held him in detention for 72 hours. The crowd held a minute's silence for Filip (Picture: Bulphoto) It is the latest tragedy in the centre of the Bulgarian capital Lubomir Nikolov, Sofia Police Department's director, later confirmed he had past offences for driving under the influence and another for speeding, for which he was fined 100 lev (about £40). Demonstrations erupted in Sofia after the crash, which shook the entire nation. People are calling for police and lawmakers to take drunk and drug driving more seriously. Tributes have been paid to the 'exceptional' student by his friends and teachers. Children leaving flowers at the zebra crossing (Picture: Bulphoto) Many of Filip's schoolfriends attended the demonstration (Picture: Bulphoto) Krasimira Pavlova, deputy dire){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A city of 1.2 million people has become a death trap for pedestrians if a series of recent tragedies are proof.
‘Protect your children,’ the mother of a teenage boy who was killed in a gut-wrenching car crash over the weekend appealed to other parents at a demonstration against Bulgarian authorities.
Her son, Filip, died on Saturday evening when a swerving Mercedes ploughed into him in the centre of Sofia, dragging his body behind.
Behind the wheel of the car was a man so drunk that he only drove a few hundred meters before slamming into the 15-year-old who was crossing a pedestrian lane.