By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Two
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 of 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
Continued from the previous issue
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL WORKS DATED NOVEMBER 30, 1977, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE FIERZA – SHKODER ROAD, WHERE 5 PEOPLE 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, 6.11.1978
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 262
PUKA
On 4.11.1978, at 12.00, the car “Lumverdhë” driven by the driver Luç Nikoll Turumani, aged 32, born and resident in Shkodra, working in the Fierza Park, while traveling from Fierza to Shkodra, in the village of Dardhë, fell about 300 meters into the abyss, and as a result they died; Agostin Kol Prenga, aged 26, from the village of Raj in Tropoja, Bib Mark Ndoci, aged 26, from Fushë – Arrëz, technician at PT Fushë-Arrëz, Fran Pren Dukati, aged 24, born and resident in the village of Qaf-Mal, police officer at the Internal Affairs Branch of Pukë, Pal Pren Dukati, aged 38, born and resident in Qaf-Mal, chairman of the People’s Council (brother of Fran), Gani Murat Lumica, aged 40, born in the village of Geg-Hysen in Tropoja, dispatcher at the Fierza park, while the driver was seriously injured and hospitalized. The operational group concluded that the incident occurred due to the driver’s fault.
MAYOR
PILO SHANTO
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 10 DECEMBER 1980, NOTIFYING THE SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE KOMAN-SHKODRA ROAD, WHERE SIX ENGINEERS OF THE KOMAN HYDROPOWER PLANT LOST THEIR LIVES
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Example No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 10.12.1980
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 292
SHKODRA
On 9.12.1980, at around 16.30, on the Koman Shkodra road, 500 meters near the Spathari Bridge, a minibus with license plates 81-96 of the Fierza H/C, driven by driver Ramadan Gjakovici, fell into the river. There were 10 people on board. Koman’s engineers drowned; Rruzhdi Bazhdari, from Shkodra, Jorgo Plaku from Tirana, Ilir Prevazi from Durrës and Naim Mlloja from Shkodra, who has not yet been found, as well as the driver himself. The operational group went to the site and is dealing with finding Naim’s body.
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
ALI KORBI
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 12 JANUARY 1977, NOTIFYING THE SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON BATRA ROAD, WHERE 5 DIRECTORS OF THE GEOLOGICAL ENTERPRISE OF THE MAT DISTRICT LOST THEIR LIVES
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WORKS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 12.1.1983
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 8
BURRELI
On 10.1.1983, at 11 o’clock, in the place called the New Zone of the Batra Mine, the vehicle “BÇ” with the license plate MT-98 90, of the Geological Directorate of Mat, driven by the driver Bajram Idriz Lika, aged 31, resident of the village of Gurrë e Madhe, crashed and fell into the abyss.
The driver and four other people who were in the car died from this accident: Jani Mihal Alabaku, aged 36, director of the Geological Enterprise Mat, party member; Gaqo Nasi Semini, aged 44, secretary of the party bureau of the enterprise, Ali Çel Raçi, aged 32, geological technician and Medi Aqif Çela, construction technician. The cause of the accident was the ejection of the head of the bar from the steering group. The matter is being investigated.
DEPUTY SECRETARY
ALI KORBI
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 27 AUGUST 1983, NOTIFYING THE SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE PUKA – SHKODER ROAD, WHERE 6 PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND HEALTH LOST THEIR LIVES
POLICY OF SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Example No.1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 29.8.1983
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 204
On 27.8.1983, at 16.30, on the Pukë – Shkodër road, the “Aro” car with license plate TR 68-98, in the place called Qafë-Qeli, fell from a height of 200 meters. The following died from this: Hektor Muntaz Shehu, age 36, resident of Tirana, investigator at the Pukë Internal Affairs Branch, Agron Xhevdet Miloti, age 34, resident of Tirana, operative worker at the Pukë Internal Affairs Branch, Romeo Lena, resident of Tirana, teacher in Pukë, Dallandyshe Mehmet Çaka, age 30, resident of Tirana, working at the Ministry of Health, Vasilika Premti, resident of Tirana, doctor at the Ministry of Health and Hasan Hoxha, driver at the Ministry of Health.
CHAIRMAN
BAUDIN KAZANI
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED SEPTEMBER 24, 1983, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD RRËSHEN – SHPAL, WHERE 4 WORKERS OF THE SPAÇIT MINE LOST THEIR LIVES AND 5 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, 24.9.1983
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 227
MIRDITA
On 23.9.1983, at 9.30, on the Rrëshen-Shpal road, in the place called “Shkalla e Madhe”, the vehicle “Skoda”, with license plate PU 55-56, with a trailer belonging to the Fushë-Arrës Park, driven by driver Ndue Pjetër Nikolla, aged 25, resident of the village of Gojan Pukë, while exchanging with the vehicle “Skoda” of the Mirdita Park, with license plate MR 63-59, driven by driver Pal Vnela, aged 33, fell into a ravine.
As a result, Mark Preng Brozi, aged 40, resident of the village of Gëziq Mirditë, worker at SMT, died; Nik Mark Brozi, 13, resident of the village of Gëziq Mirditë, student, Hil Ndue Gjeçi, 23, resident of the village of Gëziq Mirditë, worker in Park and Pashk Mark Marku, 18, resident of the village of Gëziq Mirditë, worker in the Spaç mine, and Tonin Mark Marku, 18, resident of the village of Gëziq Mirditë, worker in the Spaç mine, were injured, as well as Tonin Mark Doka, 19, resident of Fushë-Mirditë, worker in reclamation, Mëhill Frrok Marku, 18, resident of the village of Gojan-Pukë, and driver Ndue Pjetër Nikolla, worker in Reclamation, resident of Mirditë, and driver Ndue Pjetër Nikolla, who were hospitalized. The driver has been detained.
CHAIRMAN
BAUDIN KAZANI
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 7 JULY 1985, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE BURREL – ULZĖ ROAD, WHERE FIVE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR WORKS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 7.7.1985
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 161
BURREL
On 6.7.1985, on the Burrel-Ulzë road, at the place called Ura e Karicës, the vehicle with the license plate KR 75-20, driven by Drita Rakip Disani, aged 28, resident of Laç, hit the body of a Zetor, which fell 100 m. down the road and as a result, Mark Jak Gjini, aged 30, resident of the village of Fushë-Baz, and Ismail Xhafer Ibrahimi, aged 28, resident of the village of Karicë, Llesh Pal Sokolaj, aged 32, resident of the village of Baz, Gjet Kol Gjini, aged 35, resident of the village of Fushë-Bazë, Gëzim Rami Marku, aged 30, resident of the village of Karicë, tractor driver, while the Zetor tractor driver, Faslli Hyseni, was hospitalized in serious condition, for these, the driver was arrested.
DEPUTY HEAD OF THE GENERAL BRANCH
GJERGJI THANO
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 4 JULY 1987, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE ULZË – SKURAJ ROAD, WHERE FOUR PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND THREE OTHERS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED
POLICY OF SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 4.7.1987
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 156
MATI
On 3.8.1986, on the Ulzë-Skuraj road, in a place called Ferr-Shkopet, the vehicle “Tatrra” with license plate 40-16, driven by driver Haxhi Hysen Hoti, aged 24, working at the Shkodër construction transport company, went off the road, resulting in the deaths of Lulzin Xhevdet Koçi, aged 19, from Ostreni i Madh Dibër, a worker, and Skënder Adem Kurti, from the village of Prell Mat, aged 19, as well as two other unidentified persons. Three others were also injured, but are out of danger. Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver was blinded by atmospheric emissions in front of the vehicle. The driver was arrested.
HEAD OF THE GENERAL BRANCH
BAUDIN KAZANI
SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 5 DECEMBER 1987, NOTIFYING THE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON THE RRËSHEN-MILOT ROAD, WHERE FIVE PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES AND SEVERELY INJURED SEVERELY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 7.12.1987
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 289
MIRDITA
On 5.12.1987, on the Rrëshen-Milot road, in the village of Fierzë, the “Saurrel” car of Kruja Park crashed, with 11 passengers, of whom five died, including the driver Avdulla Qamil Hoxha, 2 were hospitalized in serious condition. The cause was the intersection with the “Saurrel” 52-61 driven by Ndue Prenga, who was stopped./ Memorie.al
CHIEF OF THE GENERAL BRANCH
BAUDIN KAZANI
Continues next issue
