Yesterday was graduation, today — a funeral: in Mykolaiv an Audi driver was taken into custody after the deaths of a mother and daughter

Central District Court of Mykolaiv ordered a preventive measure for the driver of an Audi, who is suspected in a fatal crash on Central Avenue. 31-year-old Ihor Serhiienko was remanded in custody for 60 days without the right to post bail.

This was reported by the media.

The hearing took place on Monday, 22 June, at the Central District Court of Mykolaiv. The motion was considered by Judge Olesya Deminska. The prosecutor’s office asked to apply the harshest preventive measure to the suspect – detention for a period of 60 days without the possibility of posting bail.

The driver’s defense asked the court to allow the possibility of bail, but the judge granted the prosecutor’s motion.

The suspect was brought to court under escort. At the hearing it was stated that Ihor Serhiienko has a higher education, is a citizen of Ukraine, is unmarried and has no dependents. He is not registered in Mykolaiv. According to information voiced in court, he came to the city for the weekend because he was looking for work.

The court also reported that the man has no prior criminal convictions and is not on any register. At the same time, he has previously faced administrative penalties for traffic rule violations.

Separately, the suspect’s military status was discussed. The court stated that he is not currently serving in the military. At the same time “ПН” citing its sources writes that Ihor S. previously served in one of the marine infantry brigades, was captured by the Russians during the defense of Mariupol and was exchanged in December 2022. The publication also notes that there are differing reports about his current status.

The Audi driver himself admitted guilt in court but refused to give an explanation. During the hearing he briefly said that he is remorseful.

“I am ashamed that this happened.”

While the court withdrew to the deliberation room, the suspect also apologized and said he understands that the dead cannot be brought back.

The tragedy occurred on the evening of 20 June at about 22:15 at the signal-controlled intersection of Central Avenue and Zakhysnykiv Mykolaiva Street in Mykolaiv. An Audi A6 and a Citroen C3 collided there.

According to preliminary data, the Citroen C3 was traveling along Central Avenue from Soborna Street toward the Central Market and stopped before the intersection at a prohibiting traffic light. At that moment an Audi crashed into the car from behind at high speed.

The Citroen C3 was thrown more than 20 meters by the impact. At the scene of the accident 50-year-old Ella S., who was driving the Citroen, died.

Her 17-year-old twin daughters, Daria and Anastasia, were also in the car. Both girls were hospitalized. One of them, Anastasia, sustained extremely severe injuries and was placed in the intensive care unit. In the morning she died in the hospital. The other girl remained alive after receiving medical assistance.

According to “Novyn-N”, the sisters had celebrated their school graduation just the day before.

“ПН” reports that before the fatal collision the Audi driver first crashed into a parked van. According to the outlet, after that he did not stop and continued driving, and a few hundred meters later the collision with the Citroen C3 occurred.

During procedural actions, 2.51 per mille of alcohol was recorded in his blood. The publication also writes that before getting behind the wheel the man allegedly consumed alcohol in one of the city’s shops.

The suspect faces up to 12 years imprisonment with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 7 to 10 years.

Earlier we wrote:

• Mykolaiv crash: Audi driver who, allegedly drunk, killed a woman and her daughter faces 12 years
• Mother and daughter killed in Mykolaiv crash, second daughter in hospital: Audi driver detained
• Night tragedy in the center of Mykolaiv: female driver died, two underage passengers hospitalized
• Instead of bail — pretrial detention: suspect in fatal crash on Bohoyavlenskyi remanded in custody
• In Mykolaiv region a drunk driver overturned an Opel and fled: a passenger died, a teenager injured