At approximately 20:20 on April 9, a collision on the Volga embankment in Rybinsk involved a driver who allegedly lost control and struck two children on the sidewalk. The incident was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Yaroslavl region.
Reports indicate that two boys, born in 2013 and 2015, died at the scene and later in hospital treatment. The driver, a man born in 1993, was detained by bystanders who alerted the police. The crash occurred on the Volga embankment, when a Ford Mondeo reportedly left the road and mounted the curb where the children were riding a scooter and a bicycle. After realizing the impact, the driver attempted to flee, but witnesses pursued the vehicle. Law enforcement later stopped the car near Saturn stadium, and police arrived promptly on the scene.
According to the Telegram channel Shooting, the driver, a 29-year-old named Ivan Ogurtsov, was taken to a medical facility for a drug test, which indicated intoxication at the level of 0.8 mg per liter. It was noted that the man has two young children of his own.
Following the incident, the press service of the Yaroslavl Region Investigative Committee announced that a criminal case had been opened concerning the deaths of two minors in an accident. The charge falls under provisions related to violations of traffic rules resulting in the deaths of two people, with aggravating factors including drunkenness and leaving the scene, according to official statements.
The potential penalty under these provisions ranges from eight to fifteen years of imprisonment.
“Applause and Heartbreaking Cries”
Eyewitness Anastasia recounted the events and the ensuing pursuit in a conversation with socialbites.ca. She described a car accelerating down the road, a protective instinct from a husband who warned that disaster might unfold, and the moment when cries and a rumble chilled the air. She told how police and ambulance crews arrived quickly, and how a motorcyclist began pursuing the driver after the collision.
According to Anastasia, the driver initially stopped and then fled the scene. She said a biker chased him, and others assisted in providing first aid to the injured children while bystanders called emergency services.
In public comments on social networks, posts from residents described the motorcyclist attempting to intervene and offering assistance. One commenter, Andrei Mazov, stated that the Ford driver was intoxicated. Mazov recalled a motorcyclist who had stopped nearby to help after the collision and described how he performed a basic aid action to stabilize one of the victims before help arrived. Mazov also conveyed that the event occurred in front of the victims’ mothers and that the scene was chaotic and distressing, with dust and confusion obscuring visibility.
Another account from the motorcyclist noted the sudden and violent nature of the crash and expressed condolences to the families. He described the moment as devastating, with witnesses trying to comprehend what had happened in front of their eyes.
allegations against the administration
Commenters on social platforms raised concerns about municipal safety measures, noting that residents had repeatedly urged the city administration to erect a barrier separating the roadway from the sidewalk at the site of the crash. Several posts suggested that complaints about the danger of the area had circulated since the previous summer.
One community representative suggested that fences have since become common around schools and kindergartens, while questioning why similar protections were not implemented at the accident location. The official emphasized that while barriers can help, the responsibility also lies with drivers who operate vehicles under the influence. The vehicle involved weighed several tons, and a driver under the influence could cause serious harm even in the presence of barriers.
A separate user offered a more critical view, arguing that fences alone do not guarantee safety for pedestrians and that a physical division would be a more effective solution. The discussion reflected frustration with how urban safety is managed and who bears accountability for preventing such tragedies.