A tragic road accident in western Ukraine has left 14 people dead after a lorry collided with a minibus, killing all but one passenger. Among the deceased were twelve passengers, including a young child, and the two drivers involved in the accident. The sole survivor, a woman, sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment. Authorities have initiated criminal proceedings to investigate the cause of the collision, which occurred near the village of Verkhiv in the Rivne region.
The incident, which took place around 15:45 local time, has sparked national mourning and raised questions about road safety in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in a video address, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. While the exact circumstances leading to the collision are still under investigation, early reports suggest that the lorry crossed into oncoming traffic before crashing into the minibus.
Images shared by the Emergencies Ministry depict the aftermath of the crash, with vehicle wreckage scattered across a field and a child’s toy lying on the ground—a heartbreaking reminder of the loss of innocent lives. The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the importance of adhering to traffic regulations and ensuring the safety of all road users.
As the community grapples with this devastating loss, it is essential to prioritize road safety measures and educate drivers on the significance of following traffic laws. This preventable tragedy underscores the need for increased vigilance on the roads and stricter enforcement of driving regulations to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time, and we hope that swift action will be taken to prevent such tragedies from occurring again in the future.
