A Joyride with the Breeze

Grigoriev, a resident of Vitebsk, obtained his driver's license by the age of 21, acquired a "CITROEN XANTIA" car, and on June 18, 2016, drove with his parents in this car to Budilovo village to visit relatives.

Grigoriev, a resident of Vitebsk, obtained his driver's license by the age of 21, acquired a "CITROEN XANTIA" car, and on June 18, 2016, drove with his parents in this car to Budilovo village to visit relatives. He spent time with friends, and alcohol was involved. First, beer after the sauna, then a significant dose of vodka. He enlisted a sober friend as a driver, but when the friend went home, near the club in Budilovo village, he put an intoxicated friend in the back seat and got behind the wheel himself. They headed to Vyazhishche village. Loud music was playing in the car, and they sped through Budilovo village at 100 km/h, overtaking young people returning from a disco, towards their destination. His mood, fueled by alcohol, was excellent, and his driving experience was less than a year. It is not surprising that the young, intoxicated driver lost control of the car and veered into the oncoming lane, then into a ditch, where the front of the car collided with a roadside tree. As a result of the road traffic accident, the passenger, who was unbelted in the back seat, sustained severe bodily injuries: closed comminuted fractures of the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae, contusion and compression of the spinal cord, which led to a complete spinal cord conduction disorder syndrome, loss of muscle function in the upper and lower extremities, and impaired pelvic organ function.

Grigoriev committed a less serious crime due to negligence. While operating a source of increased danger, he grossly violated traffic rules. It is not without reason that people say that traffic rules are written in blood. He got behind the wheel while heavily intoxicated, significantly exceeding the permissible speed limit for him in the dark.

Grigoriev is characterized positively and provides assistance to the victim, earning his forgiveness. The court issued a guilty verdict against Grigoriev, according to which he was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment and will serve his sentence in a correctional colony under settlement conditions, with deprivation of the right to engage in activities related to driving vehicles for a period of 5 years.

As a result of the accident, the victim became a Group 1 disabled person at the age of 25 and still has a long way to go to recover his health. It is hoped that what happened will serve as a good life lesson for the convicted person and the victim, as well as for everyone who considers it possible to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Deputy Prosecutor
Beshenkovichi District
Junior Justice Advisor
Leshenok E.I.