A 12-year-old girl is being credited with preventing a potentially serious accident on Bulgaria’s Struma Highway after taking control of a moving vehicle when her mother lost consciousness while driving.
According to the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Pernik, the incident occurred around noon on Wednesday. While traveling from Sofia toward Pernik, the girl’s mother suddenly fainted behind the wheel, leaving the vehicle moving along the highway without an active driver.
Despite the dangerous circumstances, the child remained composed and immediately called emergency number 112. During the call, she informed the operator that her mother was unconscious and described the situation inside the vehicle while it was still in motion.
Emergency services quickly coordinated efforts involving the girl, dispatch operators, officers from the Second Regional Police Department, and the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Pernik. Throughout the incident, the child followed instructions while continuing to manage the vehicle.
Authorities said the girl succeeded in keeping control of the car, guiding it safely into the emergency lane and bringing it to a stop using the vehicle’s start-stop system. Her actions prevented what could have become a serious highway collision.
