Residents of Istra, near Moscow, recount a heartbreaking accident that left two young sisters and their mother at the center of a sudden tragedy. A garbage truck collided with the two children as their mother was taking them to a kindergarten. Eyewitnesses described the scene to Fifth Channel, suggesting the mother may have been momentarily distracted, leaving the girls alone on a section of the road. One sister died at the scene, and the other succumbed to her injuries later in hospital.
Families and neighbors gathered at the site, laying flowers and leaving toys as a quiet tribute to the victims. A video recorded by a passing car captured the moment the truck struck the children. In the aftermath, the mother appeared overwhelmed and unconscious, overwhelmed by the shock of witnessing the accident unfold before her eyes. Eyewitnesses emphasized that the driver did not appear to break traffic rules; the children reportedly crossed the road at an unsafe location, which contributed to the tragedy.
Speaking to journalists, a local resident offered a blunt assessment: the children were crossing in a dangerous spot, and the driver could not be blamed for the accident. The sentiment echoed among neighbors who live near the road, with several noting the distressing sounds of a mother’s screams echoing through the neighborhood as the event unfolded. One resident recalled the moment a child called out, and another described a driver’s desperate cries during the immediate aftermath.
The driver’s limited view was attributed to the design of the vehicle. According to an autoinstructor, Sergei Tsygankov, the blind spots on large vehicles can obscure pedestrians on either side, particularly in the front corners of a truck. He stressed that a truck’s large cabin creates angles the driver cannot see, making sudden pedestrians a real hazard even when the operator is paying attention. This perspective aligns with the early observations that while the driver did not intentionally violate traffic laws, visibility issues played a part in the accident.
Investigators have questioned the mother, who remains shaken by the events and has not yet recovered from the experience. As reported by Five Channel, authorities are continuing to gather statements and analyze the sequence of events leading up to the collision. The case has drawn attention from the local community and raised questions about pedestrian safety near busy thoroughfares and the need for suitable crossing points for families with young children.
Authorities also reported detaining a man connected to the incident while inquiries continued. The overall situation remains under investigation as officials work to determine responsibilities and the precise factors that contributed to the tragedy. The community in Istra continues to mourn the loss of the two young girls while seeking understanding and reassurance that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, including heightened awareness of blind spots around large commercial vehicles and safer routes for children and caregivers when they walk to school or kindergarten. The incident underscores the fragility of everyday moments and the lasting impact such events have on families and neighbors alike, leaving a mark on a town that now remembers the two young lives lost.
At this time, investigators are piecing together testimonies from witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage, and examining the truck’s route and timing on the day of the incident. The mother, who survived but remained deeply distressed, is cooperating with authorities as they determine the full context of what transpired and what safeguards might be recommended to prevent a recurrence. The community hopes that findings will lead to practical safety improvements and more careful driving practices in areas where families frequently walk, especially near schools and daycare centers. The event has become a stark reminder that vigilance is essential, even in routine commutes, and that the safety of pedestrians, particularly children, depends on clear visibility and prudent road design that accounts for the realities of urban life.