In a high-profile criminal case unfolding in the Tomsk region, a court has handed down a prison sentence of 17.5 years to the defendant, who was found guilty in connection with the deaths of four medical professionals in a traffic accident. The sentence was announced by the district attorney’s office on a recent Wednesday, marking a conclusion to a case that drew significant regional attention and prompted discussions about road safety and professional protections for medical staff.
The fatal incident occurred on the Tomsk-Mariinsk highway in December 2022. An emergency medical transport vehicle, an ambulance, responded to a call and, shortly after setting off, collided with a KamAZ truck. The impact caused both vehicles to veer toward the roadside, and a subsequent fire engulfed the ambulance. Four people who were on board the ambulance died as a result of the crash: Alla Karmanova, the deputy chief of Gynecology and Obstetrics; Yuri Bochkov, who led the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care; nurse Natalia Ivanova; and driver Mikhail Krinitsyn. Their families and colleagues mourned the loss while authorities launched a thorough investigation to determine the sequence of events and contributory factors that led to the tragedy.
Investigators determined that the truck driver, who survived the collision with injuries, had a prior criminal record and was believed to be under the influence at the time of the accident. A key element of the inquiry focused on whether the driver had stolen the vehicle without proper authorization and whether intoxication played a decisive role in the deadly collision. The case drew attention to risk factors in traffic involving high-speed responses by emergency services and the potential consequences when drivers with criminal histories are behind the wheel of heavy vehicles in critical moments.
Authorities emphasized that the broader context includes ongoing monitoring of road conditions, driver fitness, and compliance with licensing requirements. The trial examined how the driver’s past behavior and current state of intoxication intersected with the demands placed on emergency responders, as well as how such factors might influence the safety protocols followed by both ambulance crews and commercial transport operators. The court’s ruling reflects an effort to balance accountability with broader public safety objectives in a region where traffic incidents can have wide-reaching effects on medical teams, families, and the local healthcare system.
Earlier reporting noted that the same truck involved in the Tomsk-Mariinsk crash had previously been connected to a separate incident in Moscow, where the vehicle reportedly overturned after colliding with two other cars. This earlier event added to the public interest in the case and raised questions about vehicle maintenance, driver behavior, and regulatory oversight across different jurisdictions. While that prior incident occurred in a different setting, it contributed to the perception that the driver’s actions warranted close scrutiny within the framework of criminal and civil accountability.