In Kyiv, a driver with 39 traffic violations crashed into an underground pedestrian crossing: four dead

Road accident in Kyiv: a tragedy on the road

According to Главком: On June 5, around 5:30 PM, a traffic accident occurred at the intersection of Vadym Hetman and Ushynskyi streets in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of four people, including kindergarten worker Iryna Lazareva and two police officers. A Mercedes-Benz C300 drove off the road at high speed and crashed into an underground pedestrian crossing. As a result of the accident, two men, one woman, and a 12-year-old boy, Hryhorii Hlushych, died. Three other people sustained injuries.

Details of the accident

Among the deceased was kindergarten worker Iryna Lazareva, who left behind a son with special needs and elderly parents. The other victims were two police officers from the Solomianskyi police department:

• 24-year-old Senior Lieutenant Dmytro Bondarchuk
• 21-year-old Lieutenant Denys Budchenko

At the time of the accident, the police officers were on duty.

Behind the wheel was 49-year-old Pavlo Pleshyvtsev, a resident of the Kherson region. The driver, who is the head of the community of evangelical Christians-Baptists 'Church of the village of Pidstepne', sustained injuries and was hospitalized. At the time of the accident, the man was sober, as confirmed by data from the Office of the Prosecutor General. According to information, the driver has 39 traffic violations, most of which relate to speeding. Throughout 2025, he was fined five times for speeding and another five times for other violations. A traffic accident involving the driver occurred in March 2026, with no casualties.

Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office has initiated a pre-trial investigation under part 3 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for punishment for violations of road safety rules resulting in the death of several persons. The penalty under this article is up to 10 years of imprisonment.

“She sincerely loved children. It was evident in everything – in her gaze, voice, and daily care for the kids,” noted Iryna Lazareva's colleague, Natalia Berezii.

This tragedy highlights serious issues related to road safety in Ukraine, particularly speeding and non-compliance with traffic rules. The high level of violations recorded against the driver raises concerns about his responsibility. The investigation initiated by the prosecutor's office could be an important step in ensuring punishment for such irresponsibility as well as raising awareness about road safety in society.