An incident at a rally event in the Leningrad region involved a racing car that veered into the crowd. An eyewitness, Alexandra, told socialbites.ca that the accident happened when the car, which was not traveling at high speed while negotiating a turn, struck a bump and collided with spectators. She described one person being knocked down and another being dragged beneath the vehicle.
Witnesses stood about five meters away from the scene, on a small incline. An adult man and a younger man were among the spectators, while others lined up behind a safety barrier in the area that was also considered hazardous. The previous year, during a standard competition, a car had already toppled a chair at a similar location. The observers recalled the risk and placed themselves across the hill, noting that the barrier had been positioned where the car had appeared last year, with the car’s pilot turning left. The observer moved to the left and then to the right as the car, moving slower than a racing vehicle typically would, failed to gain enough speed and power. The front wheel tangled with a obstacle, and the car’s momentum carried it toward the witnesses. One spectator was struck tangentially, rolled over, and suffered a concussion, while another was dragged five meters away. The car continued forward, ending up in a ditch and among bushes nearby.
According to Alexandra, the victim remained conscious after the crash despite sustaining multiple fractures, but his condition worsened, and his son later reported that he died in intensive care.
First aid was administered on the spot, and an ambulance was summoned immediately. The responders managed to place a neck splint, lay the victim on a stretcher, and load him into a vehicle. As additional medical teams arrived, the organizers redirected resources to secure the victim, with two more ambulances joining the effort. The scene drew the attention of the traffic police and a representative of the event organizers, who began transferring the victim to another vehicle equipped to handle critical medical care. The injuries were extensive, including two broken legs, a severely damaged arm, and multiple injuries to ribs and internal organs. Despite the severity, the victim remained conscious and able to communicate, and his son was present nearby. Eventually, spectators were asked to disperse while the victim was transported to a hospital. The son later announced that his father died in the intensive care unit, having not undergone surgery due to the extent of his injuries.
The eyewitness noted that the race car driver appeared to be in shock after the incident and later confessed to feeling guilt. In her account, the first response from bystanders was to approach the driver with a safety signal, and the driver, initially stunned, asked about the victim’s condition. When the ambulance arrived, the driver emerged from the vehicle in shock and began to acknowledge his perceived responsibility, even though the incident involved multiple factors. A friend of the witnesses reported that the police arranged a nearby lineup, and the driver was taken into investigative custody to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the crash.
On May 18, the Telegram channel Mash at Moika reported that a racing car had veered into the crowd at the Leningrad Region Rally Cup near the village of Melnikovo, in the Priozersk District. The footage shown by the channel indicated the car skidded around a bend, prompting spectators to flee toward the scene for safety.
Subsequently, the Investigative Committee announced the opening of a criminal case related to the man’s death, signaling ongoing enforcement actions and inquiries into the event and the accident’s aftermath.
Earlier reports noted another incident in which a female driver driving a carpool in the town of Korolyov, Moscow region, collided with five parked cars, underscoring safety concerns in racing and related events across different regions.