New Details on the Accident That Caused the Death of Three Members of a Young Family

The investigation department of the Shirak Regional Investigative Committee of Armenia has completed the preliminary investigation into the accident that claimed the lives of three individuals in the administrative territory of the Jajur community in Shirak province on July 26, 2024. The investigation has resulted in charges against two individuals.

Earlier, it was reported that on that day, around 1:30 AM, two vehicles, a BMW X3 3.01 and a Honda FTT 1.3, collided on a 15 km stretch of the Gjumri-Vanadzor highway, within the Jajur community's administrative territory. As a result of the collision, the driver of the Honda FTT 1.3 and his wife died at the scene, and their 7-year-old son, who sustained injuries, was transferred to a medical center where he later died without regaining consciousness.

During investigative operations conducted within the framework of the case, evidence has been gathered indicating that the driver of the BMW X3 3.01 violated traffic regulations and acted contrary to the requirements of the law on ensuring traffic safety in Armenia. In particular, failing to adhere to traffic rules and ignoring the presence of solid lines, he did not maintain the right side of the road, crossed the solid line, and entered the oncoming lane. This caused him to collide with the oncoming Honda FTT 1.3, leading to the deaths of three individuals.

Additionally, during the investigation, it was revealed that on the same day at 2:05 AM, the driver of the BMW X3 3.01 called a 26-year-old acquaintance from Gjumri for assistance. Following this, the acquaintance arrived at the scene in his Mercedes Benz. Once he confirmed that an accident had occurred, with the intention of preventing legal action against the BMW driver, the 26-year-old transported him out of the accident site to a hair salon belonging to his acquaintance in the Ani neighborhood of Gjumri.

Afterward, at the request of his acquaintance, the young man went to his house, retrieved his passport, and then took him through the Bavra border checkpoint. As a result, the individual suspected of committing the crime fled and hid from the investigative authorities. On September 20, 2024, he voluntarily presented himself to the authorities.

Based on sufficient evidence, charges were brought against the driver of the BMW X3 3.01 in accordance with part 3 of Article 342 of the Armenian Criminal Code, and he was subjected to detention as a preventive measure. His 26-year-old acquaintance was charged under part 1 of Article 474 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The preliminary investigation has been completed, and the materials of the criminal case, along with the indictment, have been sent to the supervising prosecutor to resolve the issue of forwarding to the court.