Absence of Traffic Warning Signs: Prosecutor's Office on the Tragic Accident

As previously reported, a tragic car accident occurred on October 20th on the 51st km stretch of the Yerevan-Gyumri highway. A passenger "GAZEL" vehicle left the roadway, overturned, resulting in the death of the driver and four passengers, while 17 individuals were hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries.

Immediately after receiving information about the incident, investigation and pre-investigation bodies launched measures aimed at uncovering the circumstances and causes of the tragic accident, as well as identifying the deceased and injured individuals. Steps were taken to provide medical assistance to the victims, and a criminal case was initiated.

By order of the Chief Prosecutor of Armenia, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Armen Afandyan swiftly traveled to the scene to monitor the ongoing operations and assess the situation, particularly the conditions and causes contributing to the tragedy.

It was noted on-site that the incident occurred in a section of the M-1 road where the newly constructed route under the "North-South" road construction project connects with yet-to-be-repaired segments of the road. Despite this factor evidently complicating traffic conditions, traffic restriction and warning signs were absent at the accident site, and the relevant road construction norms were not maintained.

The Deputy Chief Prosecutor specifically highlighted the fact that the high-risk traffic flow issue in this specific section of the Yerevan-Gyumri highway, and the urgent need to neutralize it, was raised by the Prosecutor's Office only days prior, on October 1st, during a meeting held at the Prosecutor General's Office with representatives from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Police of Armenia, the Traffic Police, the Investigative Committee, and other relevant bodies.

Taking this into account, a criminal case was initiated based on Article 242, Part 3, of the Criminal Code of Armenia (violating traffic safety requirements or the regulations governing traffic or vehicle operation leading to the death of two or more persons) and Article 230, Part 2 (violating safety rules during the conduct of mining, construction, or other work leading to serious consequences or death).

This means that the legal assessment within the framework of the criminal case will address not only the driving of the vehicle but also the compliance of the relevant authorities with traffic safety construction norms and requirements.

With the participation of the aforementioned responsible officials invited to the site, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor organized an operational meeting at the Aragatsotn Prosecutor's Office, during which various issues related to that road and other accident-prone areas were discussed in detail. These issues are correlated with the state's positive obligations to ensure safety.

Specifically, measures were proposed to equip those road areas with appropriate signs, markings, speed-limiting artificial irregularities, and grading works to flatten dangerous slopes of the road. The possibility of installing speed cameras in these and other hazardous areas was also discussed.

The Deputy Chief Prosecutor instructed the Police to implement intensified permanent service by the Traffic Police in the specified areas until these works are completed. Considering the agreements reached during the meeting held on October 1st at the Prosecutor General's Office, the Prosecutor's Office will exhibit persistence in the implementation of the proposed measures, raising the need for their evaluation within the criminal law framework if necessary.

Today, again according to the relevant jurisdictions, urgent and appropriate measures have been addressed to the Deputy Chief of Police and the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure.