What was meant to be a joyful family vacation ended in unspeakable tragedy—a moment that would haunt one couple forever. On a summer night in 2021, a catastrophic crash near the village of Arnakija, North Macedonia, changed the lives of Sh.E. and V.E., leaving them with devastating loss.
While returning from their holiday with their three young daughters, their car was struck head-on by a police vehicle driven by R.B., an on-duty officer at the time. According to initial reports, R.B. had veered into the opposite lane while speeding through a blind curve—driving 108 kilometers per hour, more than double the legal limit in a residential zone. The impact severely injured all five passengers and proved fatal for two of the young girls, who later died in hospital.
The family’s cherished summer memories were replaced by grief—and a quest for justice that has lasted four years. Although the crash occurred just a few kilometers from their home, the parents say that justice has never felt further away.
A Case Dragging Through the Courts
Initially, R.B. admitted guilt and was sentenced to four years in prison. But the Appeals Court later overturned that verdict, and the officer subsequently pleaded not guilty. In this new phase of the trial, his defense team presented a fresh expert analysis, claiming the vehicle’s speed was 25 km/h lower than originally estimated. The victims’ family, however, denounces this report as flawed, illogical, and tailored to protect the defendant.
The next court hearing is set for May 16, when expert witnesses from both sides will testify. The family is requesting the charge be elevated from “negligence” to “intent,” arguing that the officer’s actions showed a conscious disregard for life.
According to an expert report prepared for the prosecution, the police vehicle—a Škoda Fabia—was speeding in darkness around a blind curve. R.B. had reportedly increased his speed after hearing over the police radio about a suspicious vehicle involved in a separate investigation. However, the family’s lawyers argue that the vehicle in question was located over 25 kilometers away, near the Aracinovo interchange, and other patrol units were much closer to the scene.
“There is no justification for accelerating to such a dangerous speed in a populated area,” said the family’s legal team. “Police officers are held to higher standards, particularly at night and in areas with heavy traffic. This wasn’t mere negligence—it was reckless disregard with foreseeable consequences.”
A Broader Crisis of Road Safety
The tragedy in Arnakija is just one example in a troubling pattern. From 2020 to 2023, 457 people died in traffic accidents in North Macedonia, according to a new report by the State Audit Office. The report finds that government efforts to reduce traffic fatalities have fallen short.
In the past four years, more than 31,000 traffic incidents were recorded, nearly half of which resulted in serious injury or death. Despite a €52 million loan from the World Bank in 2014 to improve road safety and connect national highways to European corridors, auditors say the results are inadequate.
The national road safety strategy (2015–2020) remains the only official roadmap, and its implementation was never evaluated—largely because the government failed to establish a supervisory body.
“If one institution fails in its role, the whole system breaks down,” warned traffic engineer Dejan Trpevski.
The audit also revealed that from 2019 to 2023, authorities issued over 45,000 fines for drunk driving and more than 86,000 fines to individuals driving without a license. “The current driver licensing system is ineffective,” Trpevski added. “People are discouraged from going through it. They’d rather risk a fine and keep driving.”
Although the Ministry of Interior operates the “Safe City” surveillance system—fully funded and technically operational—it is underutilized due to weak legal enforcement mechanisms.
A Regional Perspective
Despite its challenges, North Macedonia fares relatively better in traffic fatality rates per million residents compared to other Western Balkan countries—with the exception of Kosovo.
As the court reconvenes on May 16, the grieving family will once again ask: will anyone be held accountable? Will a police badge remain a shield against the consequences of endangering public safety?
“We’re not asking for revenge,” said the father of the victims. “We’re asking for justice—for our daughters, and for every family that wants to believe the law protects them.”