At least 17 passengers were injured in a minibus accident in Guria, western Georgia. All of them are citizens of Belarus. Earlier, it was reported that four Belarusians died in the crash.
The injured were taken to clinics in Batumi and Chokhatauri, including six children. Some of the foreign nationals have already been discharged from the hospital.
The minibus was driven by a Georgian citizen who, according to media reports, managed to jump out of the vehicle. He also sustained injuries and was hospitalized; his condition is non-life-threatening.
The accident occurred on the road leading from Mount Gomis Mta. According to preliminary information, the driver lost control and the vehicle plunged down a precipice. Local residents told reporters that the minibus’s brakes may have failed. They said that after veering off the winding road, the vehicle struck a tree on the slope of the gorge.
Meanwhile, a neighbor of the driver stated that he owned a new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, rather than “scrap metal, as reported.” “He bought it recently, had just brought it over, and the vehicle ran like clockwork.” The acquaintance added that the driver was experienced, “a wonderful guy from a great family,” who had recently married and whose wife is pregnant.
An investigation into the crash has been opened under Article 276 (violation of traffic safety rules resulting in death).