By: C. Š. (Nova24TV.si)
The footage of the traffic accident involving President Nataša Pirc Musar indicates that the cause was inappropriate speed and insufficient safety distance between the vehicles.
And here it is. The footage of the traffic accident, which for some time was carefully kept secret, has finally surfaced. DARS did not want to release it at the request of Nova24TV. The editorial team of Demokracija also repeatedly requested it without success, as we write in tomorrow’s printed issue. However, the surveillance‑camera footage from the Kastelec tunnel, where the accident occurred on 31 July, was sent to the editorial team of Tarča, which published it yesterday on Facebook.
As seen in the footage, the first escort vehicle of the convoy entered the tunnel at an inappropriate speed and encountered a passenger car ahead that was driving more slowly. Because of the convoy’s speed, the vehicle could not move aside in time, forcing the first escort vehicle to drive onto the sidewalk on the left side of the roadway. This was followed by the collision of the Mercedes V300 van carrying President Nataša Pirc Musar together with her personal friends – Viktorija Krivolucka and Urška Repovš – and two security officers. The last escort police vehicle narrowly avoided the crash thanks to skilful manoeuvring.
The police did not release the accident report due to suspicions of a criminal offence. But according to official police statements so far, the 52‑year‑old driver of the official Mercedes‑Benz V300 failed to maintain a safe distance and crashed the front of the vehicle into the rear of the preceding Audi, driven by a 34‑year‑old driver and part of the escort. After the collision, the vehicle was deflected into the tunnel wall. Both drivers underwent alcohol and rapid drug tests – both were negative. Two people were injured: the president suffered a minor injury (a broken collarbone), while the other passenger, later confirmed to be Russian national Krivolucka, suffered a more serious injury. Both were transported to the General Hospital Izola. The material damage to the vehicles is estimated at approximately €37,000.
Due to suspicion of the criminal offence of causing a traffic accident through negligence (Article 323 of the Criminal Code), the documentation was forwarded to the Specialised State Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation is still ongoing.
President Pirc Musar later publicly admitted that she had not been wearing a seat belt (she was seated in the second row) and that the same applied to one of the passengers. She described this as her biggest mistake and took responsibility for it. Later, additional security risks emerged related to Krivolucka, who might potentially be a Russian spy.
