By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part One
Memorie.al / The tragic accidents that occurred on Sunday evening, March 22, 2026, in the space of a few hours – the first near Drashovica along the Kotë-Vlorë axis with three victims and the second in Divjakë – as well as the successive road crashes in these first three months of the year in districts such as Malësia e Madhe, Shkodra, Puka, Lezha, Mirdita, Tirana, Librazhdi, Elbasan, Lushnja and even Tepelena, seem to have become a “chorus” or a frightening “routine” that is taking human lives on a scale equal to a war. The year 2026 began with this bitter taste on its second day. On the morning of Friday, January 2, a violent collision between two vehicles on the Lezhë-Shkodër axis, near the village of Gocaj, claimed the lives of spouses Elona and Petrit Florini, 45 and 53 years old, a teacher and a police officer, respectively.
While we are familiar with this “black list” of accidents every day through real-time media reports, it should be noted that such events, often of equally tragic proportions, have accompanied the country even before the 1990s. During the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia, hundreds of people lost their lives on the roads of Albania, but as is known, those events were never made public. On the contrary, they were considered “State Secrets” and absolute silence reigned over them.
Based on this shocking analogy, in this article we are publishing some of the car accidents that occurred in different districts of the country during the 70s and 80s, where dozens of people died. Through these archival documents, we will get to know the names of dozens of Albanians who lost their lives on the curves of Gomsiqe in Puka, Krrabë in Elbasan, Potom in Skrapar, Batër in Dibrës, Shpal in Mirdita, Kudhë in Himara, or the ravines of Leshnica in the district of Saranda, etc., completing a painful and little-known chapter of daily life in Albania in the past half century.
These past tragedies are known to us through secret archival documents extracted from the Archives of the Ministry of Interior (now declassified), which are published for the first time and with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 14 DECEMBER 1973, NOTIFYING THE CAR ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON THE TIRANA – ELBASAN ROAD
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, 14.12.1973
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 294
ELBASANI
On 13.12.1973, at 15.00, on the Tirana-Elbasan motorway, near the village of Petresh-Elbasan, a car of the Tirana Directorate of Internal Affairs, with license plates 39-79, “Gaz”, driven by driver Mehmet Allmuçaj, born and resident in Tirana, aged 27, crashed. Enver Palluqi, aged 52, born and resident in Elbasan, director of the night school at the “Qemal Stafa” gymnasium in Elbasan, died in the crash, and Todi Pali Tola, aged 37, officer in the military unit No. 9909 in Gramsh, Gani Sami Kamberi, aged 26, from Shirgjan in Elbasan, driver in the agricultural cooperative, Fatmir Et’hem Bedolli, aged 33, from Elbasan, brigadier in the cement factory, as well as driver Mehmet Allmuçaj, were injured. The wounded were treated at the Elbasan hospital. According to the verifications carried out by the operational group, it turned out that the car was speeding and braked near the bend, but went off the road and fell 50 m. into the abyss.
DIRECTOR
PILO SHANTO
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED APRIL 25, 1974, NOTIFYING THE SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE PEZA E VOGĦL – NDROQ ROAD, WHERE 5 SOLDIERS LOST THEIR LIVES AND 2 OTHERS WERE INJURED
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, 26.4.1974
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 97
TIRANA
On 25.4.1974, at 10:00, on the Pezë e Vogël – Ndroq road, the “ZIL” car, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs fleet, with license plate Tr 11–35, with a trailer, driven by driver Avdulla Dervishi, which was loaded with sand and had 6 soldiers and two civilians in front, overturned.
The following soldiers died in this accident: Bardhyl Mehmet Zhurti, from Vendresha e Dytë e Skraparit; Hasan Rrapo Spaho, from Samatica e Beratit; Sherif Islam Zorraj, from the village of Lohje – Shkodër; Sami Nuredin Kurti, from the village of Luz i Madh Durrës; and Berti Filip Toska, from Fier, while the driver and soldier Hetem Musa Laze suffered blows to various parts of the body and were hospitalized. The two civilians were not injured. The accident was the fault of the driver, who violated traffic rules.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SHKËLZEN BAJRAKTARI
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS DATED AUGUST 8, 1974, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN THE VILLAGE OF POTOM, SKRAPARI, WHERE 1 GIRL LOST THEIR LIFE AND 22 OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS Example No.1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 8.8.1974
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 185
SKRAPARI
On 7.8.1974, at 04.45, near the village of Potom, in a place called “Borovë”, he fell and fell into a 70 m precipice the “ZIS” truck with license plate BR 69-75, driven by driver Rapush Dauti, from Berat, in which 32 people were traveling to Helmës. Merushe Osman Dervishi, 19 years old, from the village of Sheqëz Berat, a cooperative member, lost his life in this accident, and 22 others were injured, 7 of them seriously. They were hospitalized.
In the most serious condition were Nazike Hysen Çaushi, 19 years old, born and resident in “Stalin City”, worker at the “Mao Ce Dun” Combine, Ndini Llazi Mata, 22 years old, born in Berat and resident in the village of Çiflik-Berat, a cooperative member, and Hajrulla Rexhep Harusha, 21 years old, from Shkodra, a soldier in the 4832 Berat unit. They were transported by helicopter to the Berat hospital. An operational group was deployed to the site and by 8.8.1974, at 07.00, has not given any notice.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SHKELZEN BAJRAKTARI
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 20 AUGUST 1974, NOTIFYING THE SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN LESHNICA, SARANDA, WHERE 9 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND 19 OTHERS WERE INJURED
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Example No. 1
DIRECTORATE OF ADMIN. AND STUDIES Tirana, 20.8.1974
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 195
SARANDA
On 19.8.1974, in the place called Kelsua in the village of Leshnicë, the “ZIS” truck with license plate VL 51-57 of the Vlorë Reclamation Company (Saranda sector), driven by driver Koço Vangjel Pasho, aged 32, born and residing in the village of Senicë – Saranda, crashed. The following died in this accident: 1) Theodhor Qirjazi, aged 53; 2) Piro Lezo, aged 25; 3) Kosta Lezo, aged 47; 4) Thoma Papathopi, aged 51; 5) Filip Milo, aged 23; 6) Theodhor Baraj, aged 23; 7) Thimio Gravo, aged 39; 8) Qirjako Papa, aged 28; 9) Ziso Pasho, aged 40 and 19 others were injured, two of them seriously. It is initially believed that the accident occurred due to the driver’s fault. He was injured and is in hospital. The operational team has gone to the scene.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SHKĘŁZEN BAJRAKTARI
HYSNI KAPO’S NOTE TO THE OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION, ON THE SERIOUS ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED IN THE VILLAGE OF LESHNICA
Let’s look at the conclusion of the comrades who went to the site and take measures. Plus generalize it on a republican scale
Hysni Kapo
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS DATED 15 OCTOBER 1975, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WITH 4 VICTIMS IN THE PLACE CALLED RAFAT – DUKAGJIN, ON THE ROAD OF THE SHKODRA MOUNTAINS
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 15.9.1975
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 217
SHKODRA
On 12.9.1975, at around 21.00, in a place called Rafat-Dukagjin, the car “Gaz – 69”, with license plate SH 25-63, of the Zunkth-Kashta-Shkodër enterprise, driven by driver Zef Ded Mirashi, aged 30, fell about 80 meters into the abyss. The following died in this accident: 1) Suzana Hamdi Kastrati, aged 36, director of that enterprise; 2) Zef Pal Kola, aged 43, party member, deputy director of the Economic High School; 3) Ferdinand Nush Paci, aged 35, painter and 4) the driver, born and residing in Shkodër. Initially, the operational group believes that the accident occurred because the head was bad, with rain and dense fog.
FOR THE HEAD OF THE BRANCH
PILO SHANTO
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS DATED APRIL 22, 1976, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE PUKA – FIERZA ROAD, WHERE 5 OFFICERS LOST THEIR LIVES AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE INJURED
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 22.4.1976
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 96
PUKA
On 21.4.1976. at 17.00. on the Puka-Fierza highway, at the Pavalia bends, the Puka Corps gas-car, with license plates UP-040464, driven by driver Neim Osman Kadria from Shkodra, crashed and fell to a height of 150 meters. The accident killed officers Islam Kutbi Kapaj, 41, from the village of Bënçë Tepelena, Chief of Artillery of the Puka Corps, Lefter Sotir Dhimo, 28, from Saranda, Chief of Liaison of the 9000 Tropoja unit, and Non-Commissioned Officer Kujtim Haskaj, 34, from the village of Luz i Kavajës, member of the 9718 Kavajë unit.
Also killed in the hospital were officers Shefqet Melezin Derveni, 33, from Fushë-Kruja, Chief of Health of the Puka Corps, and Zef Ndue Kaza, 35, from the village of Domgjon Mirditë, member of the Puka Corps. The driver and Officer Sami Veledin Zeka, a doctor at the Ministry of People’s Defense, were slightly injured and were hospitalized. The operational group, a Road Traffic Officer and a member of the Ministry of People’s Defense have gone to the scene. The causes have not yet been determined.
CHAIRMAN
PILO SHANTO
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS DATED NOVEMBER 30, 1977, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE ELBASAN – GJINAR ROAD, WHERE 12 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND 23 OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No.1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 30.11.1977
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 281
ELBASANI
On 26.11.1977, at around 15.30, on the Elbasan-Gjinar road, in the village of Dërstillë, the Elbasan-Gjinar bus, with license plate EL 72-16, driven by driver Mustafa Hasan Nurihana, aged 35, born and residing in Elbasan, fell from the bridge from a height of about 6 meters.
The following died in this accident:
1) Prena Liman Skënderi, aged 22, pharmacist in the village of Zavalinë; 2) Naun Petrit Dedja, cooperative worker; 3) Pren Veniam Toçi, aged 20, cooperative worker, all three born and residing in the village of Zavalinë; 4) Liri Kostandin Muça, aged 22; 5) Dafina Lef Collodia, aged 23, both workers in the forestry enterprise, born and residing in the village of Petresh; 6) Agim Haxhi Lazareni, aged 30, born and residing in Elbasan, principal of the Zavalina school; 7) Petrit Refik Bishqemi, aged 28, veterinarian in the agricultural cooperative, Gjinar; 8) Polikseni Stefan Gegnosi, aged 24, teacher in Gjinar; 9) Shpresa Baftiar Memolla, aged 25, teacher in Zavalina, born and residing in Elbasan; 10) Petraq Zoi Pepa, aged 23, born in Vlora and residing in Korça, agronomist in the village of Poroçan-Gramsh; 11) Sotir Thanas Qirollari, aged 25, born and residing in Korça, principal of the school in that village, and 12) Piro Manol Opari, aged 27, born and residing in Bilisht, teacher in the village of Poroçan-Gramsh.
The following were seriously injured: 1) Petrit Muharrem Boçi, aged 24, born in Tirana, economist at the Gjinar agricultural cooperative; 2) Mark Stefan Kërçiku, aged 9, student; 3) Vedli Ismail Subashi, aged 28, chief agronomist at the Gjinar agricultural cooperative; both born and residing in Gjinar; 4) Donika Stefan Babi, aged 24; 5) Ferdie Xhevdet Qatipi, aged 24; 6) Zarife Anastas Skënderi, aged 20, the first two teachers in Gjinar, while the third in Zavalinë, all three born and residing in Elbasan; 7) Kadri Sulejman Ceri, aged 35, born and residing in the village of Shushicë, director of the Gjinar school; 8) Kastriot Isa Hoxha, born and residing in Cërrik, teacher in Gjinar; 9) Raimonda Luan Skënderi, aged 50, born and residing in Zavalinë; 10) Jeta Maksut Çomo, aged 21, born and residing in Elbasan, pharmacist in Gjinar.
Also slightly injured were; 1) Pranvera Sotiraq Moisiu, aged 20, construction technician in Gjinar; 2) Filianzi Dhimitër Zhurko, aged 22; 3) Fatmir Shefik Suparaku, aged 24; 4) Elba Thoma Gjeçka, aged 24, all three born and residing in Elbasan, teachers; 5) Petrit Musa Stambollxhiu, aged 30, born and residing in Elbasan, secretary of the party bureau in Gjinar; 6) Flora Abdyl Amati, aged 20, born and residing in Lleshan, zootechnician in Gjinar; 7) Aleks Jakov Balla, aged 15, born and residing in Gjinar, student; 8) Shpresa Petro Muça, aged 12, born and residing in Petrash, student; 9) Vasil Kol Dedja, aged 57, born and resident in Zavalinë, cooperative worker; 10) Behar Livan Rodhja, aged 20, born and resident in Shterman, agronomist in Gjinar; 11) Shyqëri Selman Dakli, aged 19, born and resident in Shirgjan, teacher in Zavalinë; 12) Preng Lefter Shqau, aged 25, born and resident in Gjinar, teacher in Valas; and 13) the driver.
The injured were hospitalized. Preliminary results show that the accident occurred after the car left the right lane and lost control. The driver was arrested. / Memorie.al
CHAIRMAN
PILO SHANTO
To be continued in the next issue
