A traffic accident near Mykolaiv claimed twelve lives: July 5 has been declared a Day of Mourning
The accident may have been caused by the driver of a Nissan Murano who drove into the oncoming lane
The death toll from a major road traffic accident on the M-14 “Odesa – Melitopol – Novoazovsk” highway has risen to 12 people. Among the dead are employees of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivelektrotrans”, who were traveling with their families to go on holiday. Another 6 people remain injured after the crash.
The accident occurred on the morning of 4 July 2026, at about 07:40, between the villages of Krasne and Nechayane. A passenger minibus Mercedes Sprinter and a Volvo truck collided in the road traffic accident.
Initially, the police reported 9 dead and 8 injured, but later the number of victims increased. According to updated data, the 49-year-old driver of the Mercedes Sprinter and 8 passengers of the minibus died at the scene.
Another 9 people with injuries of varying severity were taken to hospital: the 49-year-old driver of the Volvo truck and minibus passengers aged from 15 to 67 years. As of 11:30, another 3 injured people died in the medical facility. Thus, the total number of dead rose to 12, and the number of injured who remained alive is 6.
According to witnesses and the preliminary findings of law enforcement, the accident may have been caused by the driver Nissan Murano. He was traveling toward the passenger minibus and moved into its lane. After that the crossover driver left the scene.
During the examination of the scene and the collection of physical evidence, police established that the Nissan Murano violated traffic rules by entering the oncoming lane in which the Mercedes Sprinter was traveling. According to the preliminary version of the investigation, these actions may have provoked the accident with serious consequences.
The Mykolaiv region police reported on the conduct of a special operation and the search for the probable culprit of the accident:
“Law enforcement organized a special police operation and located the crossover driver who likely caused the crash and fled the scene”, – the Mykolaiv region police said.
All police crews in the region were alerted to search for the Nissan Murano. After several hours the crossover was stopped on the road “Blahovishchenske – Mykolaiv”. At the wheel was a 45-year-old resident of another region.
At the time of the official report, police were conducting initial investigative actions with the driver. Law enforcement was deciding on the legal qualification of his actions. The police have not yet reported that the man has been charged or that a preventive measure has been chosen.
The mayor, Oleksandr Senkevych reported that among the dead are employees of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivelektrotrans”, who were traveling on holiday with their families. Because of the tragedy 5 July 2026 was declared a day of mourning in Mykolaiv:
“Twelve people died, among them employees of our municipal enterprise “Mykolaivelektrotrans”. They were traveling on holiday with their families. It is very hard to comprehend. This should not have happened. The police are now establishing all the circumstances of the tragedy. Sincere condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the deceased. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We are providing all necessary assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured. Tomorrow, 5 July, we declare a day of mourning in the city. May their memory be bright”, – the statement says.
Earlier we wrote:
- Nine dead: a route Mercedes overturned and crashed under a truck on the Odesa — Mykolaiv highway
- In Mykolaiv region a motorcyclist crashed into a ZAZ and died
- Ford, Skoda and Volkswagen collided in Mykolaiv region: one dead
- 17-year-old girl died, three others hospitalized: in Mykolaiv region a Skoda collided with a truck
- On the “Blahovishchenske–Mykolaiv” road Kia and a truck collided: driver died
