The Ukrainian team Andriy Aleksandrov-Oksana Aleksandrova had a severe crash during the second day of the 28th Rally Sliven in Bulgaria, a round of the FIA European Rally Championship - Regional Cup East.

Some 400 meters after the start of the 12th special stage, nearly the small town of Stara Rieka, Bulgaria, the Subaru Impreza Sti #6 driven by Aleksandrov went off the road on a fast right turn and hit a tree with its roof. The driver was killed upon impact.

Andriy Alexandrov's wife and co-driver Oksana Aleksandrova was taken to hospital having sustained only minor injuries.

After the accident the rally was suspended and the last three stages were canceled. The Bulgarian duo Dimitar Iliev-Yanaki Yanakiev in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX who were leading after the first day of racing, were declared winners of the event.

A native of Lviv in western Ukraine, Andriy Volodymyrovich Aleksandrov, 42-year-old, was an experienced rally driver, three-time winner of the Ukrainian Rally Championship. He began his racing career in 1986 and was taking part in the Bulgarian Rally Sliven 13 years after his last start.

R.I.P