Metadone Found in Body of Kharkiv Driver Who Struck Children; He Behaved Erratically at Crash Site

The lead also revealed details of the suspect's previous charges.

The driver who struck two children in Kharkiv on November 11 was under the influence of psychotropic substances: methadone was found in his test results. He also behaved erratically at the scene of the crash.

It has also been established that the 34-year-old man had already been convicted of theft earlier this year. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with one year of probation.

Here are the latest details.

Detention and Previous Charge

The Kharkiv National Police said the detained 34-year-old Kharkiv resident was sentenced in May 2021 to three years in prison for theft, with a one-year probationary period.

Investigators entered information about the incident into the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations under Part 2 of Article 286 (violation of road safety rules or operation of transport by persons driving vehicles) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The article provides for imprisonment of three to eight years, with or without deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for up to three years.

Test Results

The prosecutor's office released the results of the driver's urine test. It turned out that at the time of the crash the man was under the influence of methadone.

"A chemical analysis of the driver's urine was carried out. At the time of the crash he was in a state of drug intoxication from methadone," said Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

As a result, the charge was changed. The driver is now charged with violating road safety rules while intoxicated by alcohol, drugs or other substances, or under the influence of medications that reduce attention and reaction speed, if they caused the victim serious bodily injury.

Because of drug use, the punishment for the crime may be harsher: imprisonment of three to eight years, with deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for five to eight years.

Chubenko also said that the prosecutor's office will request that the driver be held in custody without the option of posting bail.

During the briefing he also said that the SUV involved in the crash belongs to a legal entity, and that the man behind the wheel is not the son of one of the officials from Kharkiv Region, as had been reported on social media.

Chubenko said that earlier this year the driver was convicted of stealing a camera (Part 3 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and was sentenced to three years in prison with one year suspended.

He insisted on his innocence at the crash site

The driver did not admit his guilt at the scene. Moreover, he did not stop at the red light and afterward shouted at people.

This was reported by eyewitnesses to the crash. Workers from nearby shops ran out to the intersection after hearing the sound of the impact.

Witnesses noted that the SUV driver was "making demands" and behaved erratically.

"He was still trying to prove something. He was shouting. He tried to prove that he was not guilty of anything. How can you not be guilty? People were crossing at the zebra crossing on the green light," said eyewitness Yulia, who was at the scene.

Condition of the Children

The children, a 13-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, were hospitalized with moderate injuries.

It is noted that their lives are not in danger.

"Soft tissue contusions and traumatic brain injuries are in question," said Viktor Zabashta, head of the Kharkiv Emergency Medical Care Center.