Tragedy on Olt Valley road: Authorities call incident 'strange' as rock kills driver

A tragic accident on Romania's Olt Valley road has claimed the life of a driver when a large rock dislodged from the mountainside and crushed his vehicle. The incident has sparked a debate between authorities and infrastructure watchdogs over the cause of the rockfall.

The National Road Infrastructure Company (CNAIR) is investigating the precise origin of the approximately 40-centimeter rock. CNAIR spokesperson Alin Șerbănescu stated that the rock's trajectory was unusual, landing on the lane towards the river rather than simply rolling down the embankment. He suggested the area had no prior history of rockfalls and hinted that responsibility might lie with forest fund administrators, citing the complex process of obtaining permits for tree removal needed for barrier installation.

However, the Pro Infrastructura Association offers a different perspective. Its president believes the accident is almost certainly unrelated to the ongoing Sibiu-Pitești highway construction. Instead, the association points to the likely failure of aging protective netting along the slopes. They suggest the netting may have either given way due to wear or was entirely absent in the location where the rock fell. This points to a critical maintenance lapse, they argue, rather than a flaw in the highway construction itself.

The investigation continues as authorities attempt to piece together the sequence of events that led to the fatal rockslide. The differing explanations highlight potential issues with infrastructure maintenance and safety protocols along the busy Olt Valley route.