Kazan Taxi Driver in Pedestrian Crash Complains of Seizures

Taxi driver Evgeny Krusev, who in March last year ran over 11 people at the «Kalinina» bus stop, and his lawyer claim that he continues to have seizures similar to epileptic fits. According to their version, he experienced something similar at the time of the accident. However, doctors disagree that the driver has epilepsy. We tell what was discussed at today«s hearing in the Vakhitov Court of Kazan.

He Thinks He Has Epilepsy

Over several hearings, including today«s, the taxi driver asserted that he was unconscious at the time of the accident due to a possible epileptic seizure. However, he has no confirmed diagnosis. Thus, the judge read out the conclusion of the forensic examination, which could not accurately determine whether the driver was indeed unconscious at the moment of the crash.

«He thinks he has epilepsy. For what reasons he previously called an ambulance is unknown. Based on available data, it is impossible to reliably establish the fact of loss of consciousness at the time of the accident. The condition described by Krusev himself is not a reliable sign of loss of consciousness. The diagnosis must be established by a neurologist. And Krusev, apart from calling an ambulance for some episodes unknown to us, has not sought medical attention with the indicated symptoms and complaints. He has not been diagnosed,» stated in the courtroom the author of the examination, forensic expert of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan Dilyara Silivanova.

The forensic examination showed that at the time of hitting the bus stop with pedestrians, Krusev was under the influence of drugs. Traces of marijuana and amphetamine were found in his blood.

«Seizures can indeed be provoked by the use of some psychotropic substances, and then it will not be »true epilepsy« but a reaction to taking these substances,» noted Silivanova.

Lawyer Yulia Volodyagina defended her client, noting that he has been in SIZO (pre-trial detention center) for a long time and is not taking anything, but an ambulance has been called for him several times due to seizures.

«Krusev in the isolation ward cannot use any substances, but he has already had two seizures in his sleep. An ambulance was called for him, and before that, it was also called. Now he is not using anything, but the ambulance comes. They arrive, give a pill, and leave,» noted the defense side.

The expert countered that this still does not confirm epilepsy — a neurological examination is needed.

«There should be video recording of sleep if seizures occur during sleep. This needs to be confirmed instrumentally,» noted Silivanova.

She Has Fractures of 8 Ribs on One Side and 6 on the Other

Another forensic expert, Elvira Gainullina, assessed the injuries and condition of the pedestrians hit by Krusev. Of the 12 people who were injured at the bus stop, two women were seriously hurt.

One of them is pensioner Yasmina Khusainova, who on the day of the accident was picking up her granddaughter from art school. The car crashed into them at the moment when they were about to cross the road from the «Kalinina» bus stop. The 12-year-old granddaughter suffered a tailbone injury. The 75-year-old grandmother was less fortunate. She was found to have multiple fractures of the body and arms, a concussion, and other injuries that affected her ability to work.

«I can say unequivocally that she has severe harm to her health. In total, she has fractures of 8 ribs on one side and on the other — 6. There are signs of danger to health,» noted Gainullina.

At the hearing on 1 October 2025, Krusev apologized to the hit grandmother and said that he ran over the pedestrians not intentionally, promising to pay compensation. The pensioner earlier filed a civil lawsuit, demanding from the taxi driver no less than 500,000 rubles (about $5,000 at current rates). According to the woman, after the unfortunate accident, she became disabled.

The second victim also received fractures of limbs and body with sutures. But conclusions about whether severe harm was caused to her health can only be made after the victim completes treatment.

After hearing the experts and once again studying the case documents, the court decided to continue the hearing on 16 February and appoint a repeat forensic examination. The prosecution side noted that all witnesses have already been questioned and there is no need to call them again.

Recall that on 10 March 2025, Evgeny Krusev in a «Moskvich» ran over 11 people at the «Kalinina» bus stop. Among them were three children. After the accident, 9 people were hospitalized. It later turned out that the taxi driver was driving without a license and forged a psychiatrist«s certificate to obtain a permit.

The taxi driver is accused of violating traffic rules, which through negligence caused severe harm to human health, committed by a person in a state of intoxication (Part 1, Art. 264 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 2, paragraph a, Art. 264 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), as well as forging documents (Part 3, Art. 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Krusev admitted guilt only regarding the falsification of the certificate.

In May 2025, the court placed the taxi driver under house arrest, but on 9 June he ended up in SIZO due to violating the requirements not to leave home without permission. According to the prosecution, he violated the ban twice and each time repented and promised not to do it again, but he was still sent to the isolation ward.