On Wednesday, May13, after fleeing from border guards, a “carrier” transporting persons who had illegally crossed the State border caused a serious traffic accident in Augšdaugava Municipality, damaging three vehicles.
While checking information received about a suspicious Toyota vehicle moving along the Krāslava–Dagda road, border guards attempted to stop the vehicle using flashing lights and sound signals. However, the driver ignored the lawful orders of the border guards and continued driving while exceeding the permitted speed limit. The driver entered Krāslava, where, disregarding traffic regulations and performing several dangerous maneuvers, drove through the city and continued at high speed in the direction of Daugavpils. The driver continued without reducing speed until reaching a populated area in Naujenes Parish, Augšdaugava Municipality, where, upon noticing another border guard service vehicle and failing to maneuver around it, crashed into it. The border guard service vehicle, with flashing lights and sound signals activated, had been positioned on the roadway for the purpose of stopping the offender’s vehicle. At the time of the accident, two border guards were inside the service vehicle. As a result of the collision, the offender’s vehicle was thrown to the opposite side of the road, struck another passing vehicle moving toward Krāslava, and remained at the roadside.
Emergency Medical Service (EMS), State Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and State Police officials were called to the scene.
At the scene, firefighter-rescuers freed three persons from the vehicle and handed them over to EMS medics. Two other persons had exited the vehicles before the arrival of the SFRS. Firefighter-rescuers disconnected the vehicle battery terminals and cleared the roadway.
The driver and passengers of the vehicle were taken to hospital, where after examination medical personnel determined that the driver did not require hospitalization, while the passengers, who suffered various fractures and spinal injuries, had to remain in hospital. As a result of the incident, the border guards sustained minor injuries, while the driver of the third vehicle involved was not injured.
During the clarification of the circumstances, it was established that the driver of the vehicle is a citizen of Uzbekistan who had not obtained a driver’s license in accordance with the prescribed procedure. However, in the vehicle there were two Indian and two Iranian citizens without valid travel documents, valid visas, or residence permits, who had previously illegally crossed the Belarus–Latvia border. It was also established that the vehicle had not undergone a technical inspection and did not have a valid compulsory motor third‑party liability insurance (OCTA) policy.
As a result of the traffic accident, two of the vehicles involved sustained serious damage, while the third vehicle suffered less severe damage in the collision.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the “carrier” under Section 285, Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Law for organizing the illegal movement of multiple persons across the State border as part of an organized group.
This is already the third case within a week in which officials have had to engage in the pursuit of offenders. It has previously been reported that on May 7, after a pursuit and the use of a firearm, border guards detained a “carrier” of persons who had illegally crossed the State border in Augšdaugava Municipality. Likewise, on May 11, after a pursuit and the use of a firearm, another “carrier” of foreign nationals was detained in Daugavpils. It should be emphasized that in cases where offenders flee from State Border Guard or State Police officials while committing a criminal offense, the court may impose an even harsher penalty than in cases involving the illegal transportation of persons across the State border.