In the afternoon of February 26, a mass accident occurred on the M-11 Neva highway in the Novgorod region – more than 40 cars collided. As a result, the highway to Moscow was completely closed. According to the traffic police,
the accident occurred at around 11.20 am on the 504th kilometer of the highway – the first two cars collided. While the driver of the truck coming from behind was trying to get rid of the accident by pressing the brake, he crashed into a TIR carrying bitumen. A Renault Duster hit by another truck from behind.
A woman driving a French crossover died – her car literally got under a truck driving ahead. In total, at least 14 people were injured. Five people, four of whom were children, were hospitalized with concussions, the youngest being two years old. Nine people refused to be hospitalized. According to the latest data, 41 cars were damaged in the accident.
One of the reasons for the mass accident is that the participants referred to themselves as weather conditions and unclean road. Heavy snow fell on the M-11 highway in the morning, making visibility difficult. Ice formed under the wheels. Also, eyewitnesses claim that they did not see cleaning equipment at the scene of the accident, which is usually on the highway.
Traffic police employees in the area of the 545th kilometer of the highway held a congress on the M-10 highway, which goes in the direction of Moscow. The Ministry of Emergencies previously reported that it would take about 12 hours to close the highway.
In an interview with socialbites.ca, one of the participants in the accident, Alexey, said that he was literally at the epicenter of the accident.
“I was literally locked in. My car was not badly damaged – there are reasonably high piles of snow along the bumpers on the right side, thanks to them my car remained more or less intact. The main pile was ahead. There was something really difficult there, about 20 cars collided there. Two cars behind me were very badly beaten, irreparable, ”the man said.
According to him, the Ministry of Emergency Situations set up a field camp at the scene at around 15.00. First a bus arrived where they were allowed to warm up, then they set up tents and organized the distribution of food and hot tea. However, there is no toilet on site.
“Who is faster, has bigger results. My wife and I were driving at about 90 km/h. Road conditions are really bad. The road is not clear at all. Snow on the top, ice on the bottom so that you can slide. The road didn’t collapse, that’s for sure. There were no traces of precipitation. It was so slippery that it was useless to slow down, ”said Alexei.
He said that now those involved in the accident exchanged recordings from video recorders. According to him, they will spend at least another five hours at the scene of the accident – they cannot get out of the general dump, waiting for cars in front and behind for towing, although many participants have already been registered by the traffic police.
“My condolences to the family of the deceased woman. She was crushed under the truck. There were two children with her in the car, they managed to jump out and began to ask their mother for help. But unfortunately the broadcast was Sunday, the people were returning, they did not have time, ”the man added.
Towards evening, Avtodor reported that traffic was partially opened at the 330 km toll booth for drivers traveling from Moscow. But Alexei said, “now in the opposite direction, St. No movement towards Petersburg. Sometimes only one car passes.”
The Investigative Committee of the Novgorod Region first initiated a procedural check in connection with a mass accident, and later in the evening opened a criminal case under Art. 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (performing work or providing services that do not meet the requirements for safety of life or health).
Drivers also report other accidents on the M-11 and M-10 highways. Because of them, it is not possible to travel more than 300 kilometers on these roads in seven hours. Moscow and St. Traffic jams stretched for miles in various sections between St. Petersburg. In many places the road was not cleared.
Eyewitnesses also reported that the Neva highway was full despite the traffic jam. They also had to pay for an organized emergency exit to the M-10 highway.