Croatia Cover Up Evidence of Tose Proeski Accident

[Zvonko]

The Macedonians claim that the investigators did not interview participants of the accident, Ljiljana Petrovic and Georgij Georgijevski.

A Macedonian daily, Vecer, accused Croatia of an irregularly conducted investigation and falsifying evidence. The paper says that the investigators did not question the driver of Tose’s car, Georgij Georgijevski, or Ljiljana Petvoric, Tose’s manager who was also in the car with them at the time of the accident.

The paper slammed the investigative judge, Stjepan Franic, who investigated the case and who recently stated “what has been established has been established”. Now they are asking what has been established when the chief witnesses were not even questioned.

Last moments of Tose’s life

The Macedonians criticised Croatia for having made the omission on purpose.

-Before the accident Ljiljana Petrovic and Georgij Georgijevski got out of the car at a gas station near Nova Gradiska where they bought gas and coffee. Tose stayed sleeping in the reclined passenger seat as his knee hurt – Vecer writes, adding that there was a receipt about the petrol they had bought in the glove compartment. Based on that receipt the workers at the gas station should have been questioned to see when they had been there.

-This evidence is important to establish the time and speed at which the Touareg was moving, since there were no skid marks from breaking – the paper wrote, adding that the investigators did not even try to establish the said facts.

The paper writes that the accident happened some 20 minutes after the stop at the gas station and that the driver did not fall asleep at the wheel because Proeski and Petrovic kept him awake by taking. Since there were no skid marks, Vecer says the driver was caught by surprise and that he had his seat belt on, which is contrary to the Croatian version that says that the driver had fallen asleep.

According to the above facts, the Macedonians are adamant in claiming that the driver of the truck caused the accident when its rear end swerved and collided with Tose’s car. This is backed by pictures of the truck that suffered absolutely no damage apart from the back turn light, while Tose’s car was completely destroyed.

The two-tonne Touareg car was completely destroyed at impact in the front right door that was completely separated from the car, says Vecer.

[Ruzica]

ZAGREB, Croatia: Macedonian pop star Toshe Proeski, whose ballads earned him admirers across the former Yugoslavia, died Tuesday when his car crashed into a truck on a motorway in Croatia, police said.

Proeski, 26, represented Macedonia in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest, and his good looks and romantic songs like "Heart is not a stone" and "Tie me to yourself" won him fans across the former Yugoslavia. He also recorded duets with other popular singers in the Balkans.

Proeski recorded seven albums and his songs hae topped pop chart lists across the former Yugoslavia for months.

The Macedonian government declared Wednesday a day of mourning for Proeski, said government spokesman, Ivica Bocevski. State radio said the country was in shock.

"This is the worst day of my life. We all lost Toshe," Proeski's composer and friend Grigor Koprov said.

Born in Krusevo, Macedonia, Proeski began his music career in 1996. He studied solo singing at Skopje Music Academy and in New York. He was also known for his work for good causes and became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2004.

Police spokeswoman Kata Nuic said the driver of Proeski's car and another passenger were also injured in the crash. Nuic said the driver broke traffic rules but gave no further details about the accident.

[Box]

Macedonia's music star Tose Proeski died after the car he was riding in hit against a truck on the highway between Croatia's capital city of Zagreb and the village of Lipovac early on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old singer died on spot. The driver of the car as well as Proeski's manager, who was sitting on the back seat, suffered serious injuries.

The accident occurred after the car crashed into the back part of a truck because of the short distance between the two vehicles.

Macedonia's government declared October 17 a day of mourning over the tragedy.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski ordered interior and foreign ministers to take all possible steps to establish the reasons for the crash. He has also sent a condolatory letter to the victim's family.