A tragic mass traffic incident in the Saratov region has claimed the lives of 15 people, including three children. The regional Ministry of Health confirmed the toll through its Telegram channel. The catastrophe unfolded on the 113th kilometer of the federal highway R-228 in the Khvalynsky district, where a sudden sheet of ice caused a multi-vehicle crash involving 21 cars.
First responders and medical teams rushed to the scene as the weather deteriorated. Among those affected were three children and nine adults who required urgent medical care. A 14-year-old boy from Balakovo was transported in serious condition, suffering from cerebral palsy and complex fractures. The hospital report noted predominantly displaced fractures and multiple injuries across the victims. Several adults were taken to operating rooms for surgical intervention, while others were hospitalized in Khvalynsk hospitals. There were instances of refusals to be hospitalized among some victims, a decision that underscores the chaotic nature of mass casualty responses in harsh weather conditions. The health officials documented the situation and continued to monitor the status of all patients as treatment plans were adjusted in real time for the trauma cases involved. (Source: regional health authorities, press communications)
The regional traffic police described the scene as heavily foggy with only limited visibility, which contributed to the disruption of vehicle movement along the affected stretch of the R-228 highway. Traffic management teams implemented containment measures to prevent further incidents and to facilitate the safe movement of emergency vehicles through the compromised corridor. Officials emphasized that road crews would work to clear debris and ice once the weather allowed for safe operations, while investigators began to examine the sequence of events leading to the collision cluster. (Source: regional police updates)
In related transportation news, there were preliminary reports of injuries from a separate collision in Vladivostok involving a bus and a Toyota. Details remained fluid as authorities gathered additional information and coordinated medical responses for those affected. (Source: regional transport authorities)