Driver and crossing guard Face Up to 10 Years in Prison Following Fatal Train Accident in Rivne Region
NATO countries are actively reviewing their defense strategies in light of the potential threat from Russia and uncertainty regarding the future role of the United States in European security. According to The Economist, the Alliance is strengthening its eastern flank, and Germany is permanently stationing its troops abroad for the first time in a decade.
Law enforcement officials have announced that two individuals have been named as suspects in the case of a fatal accident at a railroad crossing in the village of Kvasyliv, Rivne Oblast. The suspects are a 42-year-old bus driver and a 54-year-old crossing guard. The tragedy occurred on July 2 at approximately 1:50 p.m. At the railroad crossing, a passenger train on the “Dnipro–Kyiv–Chełm” route collided with a “Zdolbuniv–Rivne” shuttle bus that had driven onto the tracks.
Four bus passengers were killed as a result of the violent impact. Another 11 people were injured, including three children. According to the latest reports, nine of the injured remain hospitalized. According to the Rivne Regional Police, investigators, under the procedural supervision of the regional prosecutor’s office, have notified the minibus driver that he is suspected of violating Part 3 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—violation of traffic safety rules resulting in the death of several people.
The railroad crossing guard is charged under Part 3 of Article 276 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—violation of traffic safety rules or railway operation regulations, which also resulted in the death of people. “Both suspects were detained in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine and placed in a temporary detention facility,” the police reported.
The court is now set to determine preventive measures for the suspects. Law enforcement officials also reported that the crossing guard was tested for intoxication. A test using a Drager device and a medical examination confirmed that he was sober.
Biological samples were taken from the minibus driver. They were sent for analysis to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol or other substances. Investigators are continuing to determine all the circumstances of the tragedy, including the reasons why the bus was on the railroad crossing as the train approached. If the suspects are found guilty in court, each faces up to 10 years in prison. This information comes from the Rivne Regional Police.
In the Rivne region, a passenger train collided with a scheduled minibus that had entered a railroad crossing. Four people were killed in the accident, and 11 others sustained injuries of varying severity.
