Albanian authorities say a potentially serious road safety incident was prevented on May 5, 2026, after a citizen alerted police about a school transport driver allegedly operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol in Belsh.
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| The police breathalyzer shows a reading of 0.67 mg per liter of alcohol for the driver who was stopped, source: State Police |
According to the official police statement, the incident began when a citizen contacted the operational center in Cërrik, reporting that Sazan Jashar Gjolena, the driver of a “Benz Sprinter” minibus with registration plate AA198FR, was transporting passengers, including students from the “Sami Frashëri” high school in Belsh, while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Immediately after receiving the report, police structures coordinated with officers from the Belsh Police Post, operating under the Cërrik Police Commissariat, to intercept the vehicle. Authorities successfully located and stopped the minibus on the Belsh–Gjolene road axis.
During the inspection, police confirmed that 13 students were inside the vehicle at the time of the stop. The driver, born on July 20, 1972, and resident of Gjolene village in Belsh municipality, was subjected to alcohol testing. According to police data, two separate breathalyzer tests showed alcohol levels of 0.68 mg/l and 0.67 mg/l, confirming that he was driving while intoxicated.
Following the test results, the driver was immediately escorted to the Elbasan Local Police Directorate for further legal and procedural actions. Authorities also ensured that the students were safely transported using another public transport vehicle, eliminating any immediate risk to their safety.
Police officials emphasized that citizen cooperation played a crucial role in preventing a potentially dangerous incident. Authorities have once again called on the public to report any behavior that threatens road safety, especially in cases involving the transportation of children and students.