How Did a Minibus Crash Into a Dump Truck in Buftea Leave 2 Dead and 18 Injured?

Quick answer: Two people were killed and 18 injured on the morning of 20 October 2026 when a minibus carrying 16 people crashed into a dump truck on DN 7 near Buftea, in Ilfov county, Romania. Early police checks suggest the minibus driver may not have kept a safe distance from the truck ahead.

Key facts

• What: A minibus collided violently with a dump truck (autobasculantă)
• Where: DN 7 near Buftea, Ilfov county, Romania
• When: Morning of 20 October 2026
• Casualties: 2 dead, 18 injured
• Vehicles: A minibus with 16 people on board and a dump truck
• Status: Police investigation under way; figures confirmed by Romanian media on 20 October 2026

What happened

A minibus carrying 16 people crashed into the back of a dump truck on DN 7 near the town of Buftea, just north-west of Bucharest. The impact was violent enough to trigger one of the largest emergency responses seen on the road this year.

Two people died in the crash. A further 18 were injured and taken to six hospitals in Bucharest; two of the injured were intubated, while the other 16 were conscious when they reached hospital, according to Observator News.

Officers from the Ilfov county police who attended the scene said their preliminary checks pointed to the minibus driver failing to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front. The exact sequence of events is still being established and the investigation continues.

Emergency response

Thirteen SMURD ambulances were sent to the scene, along with two special vehicles for multiple victims and fire crews. Road traffic police closed DN 7 in the area while rescue teams worked, and drivers were advised to follow police directions and expect long delays.

The injured were distributed across six hospitals in the capital, including the Bucharest University Emergency Hospital, so that no single emergency department was overwhelmed.

What happens next

Police in Ilfov county are continuing their investigation to establish exactly how the crash happened. Investigators will examine the vehicles, the road conditions, the drivers' hours and whether speed or following distance played a role. Where a commercial vehicle is involved, the operator's documentation is also checked as a matter of routine.

Romania's DN 7 is a busy national road carrying traffic between Bucharest and the west of the country, and serious crashes involving minibuses — which often carry workers or groups of passengers — have prompted repeated calls for stricter checks on following distances and driver rest times.

Frequently asked questions

How many people died in the Buftea crash?

Two people died, and 18 others were injured, according to reports published on 20 October 2026 by Observator News, Adevărul and antena3.ro.

Where exactly did the crash happen?

On DN 7 near Buftea, a town in Ilfov county just north-west of Bucharest, Romania. Traffic on the road was closed while emergency teams worked at the scene.

What caused the crash?

The cause has not been finally determined. Preliminary checks by Ilfov county police suggest the minibus driver may not have kept a safe distance from the dump truck ahead, but the investigation is continuing.

How were the injured treated?

Eighteen injured people were taken to six hospitals in Bucharest. Two were intubated and the remaining 16 were conscious on arrival at hospital.

*Sources: Observator News, Adevărul, antena3.ro — 20 October 2026.*