Driver Charged After Crash in Minsk Region That Killed Traffic Police Inspector

Reform.news Editorial Team · 25 September 2026, 10:24

https://reform.news/en/driver-charged-after-crash-in-minsk-region-that-killed-traffic-police-inspector/

The Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee has established the circumstances of the crash that killed senior traffic police inspector of the special unit of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee’s Internal Affairs Directorate Pyotr Masolbasau.

The accident occurred on the afternoon of May 14 on the 10th kilometer of the R-58 Minsk–Kalachy–Myadzyel road, near the village of Yakubavichi. According to investigators, a 75-year-old Opel driver was traveling toward Myadzyel when he hit the traffic police inspector, who was directing traffic. The officer sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital.

The investigation found that the driver could have seen the inspector in advance. The officer was on the roadway and signaling that vehicles were prohibited from continuing straight and had to move into the right lane. A police vehicle with its blue flashing beacon and hazard lights on was standing nearby. Despite this, the driver did not slow down, failed to follow the traffic officer’s instructions and continued straight, hitting the inspector.

According to experts, the Opel was in proper technical condition. Before the collision, the vehicle was traveling at about 82 kph. Specialists determined that this speed was sufficient to safely move into the right lane and leave the road.

As part of the investigation, investigators questioned the defendant, victims and witnesses, conducted investigative experiments, examined expert reports and dashcam footage. According to the Investigative Committee, witnesses confirmed that the inspector’s actions were clear to road users.

The 75-year-old driver has been charged under Part 2 of Article 317 of the Belarusian Criminal Code, which concerns violation of traffic rules resulting in a person’s death through negligence.

Pyotr Masolbasau was 40 years old. He served in the traffic police and had previously worked on the roads of the Homiel and Minsk regions. He is survived by two minor sons.