Court rules on fatal Samara minivan crash that killed two

The Bogatovsky District Court of Samara Oblast has chosen a strict preventive measure for the driver, who, according to the investigation, is responsible for the deaths of two people. A citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan will be held in custody for two months on suspicion of violating traffic rules, resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence.

What happened?

On 22 January 2026, at the 126th kilometer of the «Access Road to Orenburg from the M-5 »Ural«» highway, a head-on collision occurred. According to the preliminary investigation, the 49-year-old driver of a Toyota Vellfire, a resident of Moscow Oblast, drove into the oncoming lane and collided with a Nissan Qashqai.

As a result of the accident, the passengers of the Nissan died: a 60-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man. The 58-year-old driver of the Nissan was hospitalized. All of them were residents of the Tochsky District of Orenburg Oblast.

Immediately after the accident, a criminal case was initiated against the Toyota driver under the article for violating traffic rules, resulting in the death of two persons.

Court decision

On 26 January, the court granted the investigation«s petition and chose a preventive measure for the suspect in the form of detention until 26 March 2026. This measure is applied due to the severity of the imputed crime and the need to ensure the investigation.

The State Traffic Inspectorate once again urges drivers to be extra vigilant, especially in winter conditions, to strictly maintain distance, observe speed limits, and follow maneuvering rules. Violation of these rules, as this tragedy shows, can have irreversible consequences.

The investigation of the criminal case continues.