MOSCOW, August 17 (Itar-Tass) — The fatal road accident in Moscow on Wednesday – in which three people were killed and another five were injured — was caused by the Mercedes’ driver,” a law-enforcement source told Itar-Tass.
“The most likely cause of the car crash is the Mercedes driver’s losing control of the vehicle,” the police officer said.
He confirmed that all the victims were Mercedes passengers, including actor Nikita Yemshanov.
The Kino-Teatr (Cinema-Theatre) Internet portal confirms the actor’s death.
The accident occurred near house 13/15 in Sadovo-Sukharevskaya Street at around 06:30, Moscow time, on Wednesday. A Mercedes collided with a Hyundai and a Nissan. Earlier, police said Mercedes had government agency license plates which were immediately removed after the accident, but road police later denied the reports.
“Mercedes had transit plates. They might have burnt when one of the cars caught fire,” a road police inspector said.
Criminal proceedings were opened under Article 264, Part 5 of Russia’s Criminal Code (“violation of traffic regulations and operation of means of transportation, which resulted in negligent death of two or more persons.”)
An investigation is underway.
Nikita Yemshanov, who died on his birthday, was born on August 17, 1983 in Leningrad. He made his debut with the role of sailor Deryugin in “72 Meters.”
He became well-known after starring in “Dead Daughters” (2007). Over five years of his career, Yemshanov played more than 30 roles.