Kyiv Crash: Driver Reaches 150 km/h Before Killing Four Pedestrians, Including Child.

Deadly Collision in Ukraine's Capital

According to Novyny.live: On June 5, a catastrophic crash in Kyiv claimed the lives of four pedestrians, among them 12-year-old Grisha Glushich. The incident occurred as a Mercedes-Benz C300, driven by 49-year-old Pavlo Plyashivtsev, barreled through an underground passage in the Solomyanka district. Preliminary reports indicate the driver lost control while traveling at an estimated 150 km/h.

Four people died at the scene, including a child. Plyashivtsev had accumulated 39 traffic violations on his record and had been involved in two other collisions earlier this year. The tragedy has reignited public debate about road safety and accountability for repeat offenders.

Passenger's Account of the Moments Before Impact

Yulia Volkovska, who was riding in the car, described what happened leading up to the crash:

“He immediately guessed my birth year. We joked about the kids, and he joked too. We drove off, and within just a few minutes, he started accelerating. I don’t know why. We were weaving through traffic, overtaking cars—like in a cartoon or a racing game. I wasn’t paying much attention because I needed to reply to a message on my phone. I looked down. Someone called him too. He picked up his phone from the dashboard. I don’t remember him putting it back. He answered the call. Then I noticed the mirror on my side flew off. I said, ‘What are you doing? Stop!’ He ignored me. He wasn’t unconscious. He didn’t collapse. He held the steering wheel and paid no attention to me. Then I heard the car hit something. I closed my eyes. I braced myself.”

This case has sparked widespread concern. Nadiya Chukhrayeva, lawyer for the deceased child’s family, and lawmaker Volodymyr Kreydenko have called for stricter penalties for traffic violators. Oleksiy Mochanov, vice president of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine, also voiced alarm over the country’s road safety conditions.

The tragedy underscores the urgent need for responsible driving and adherence to traffic laws. In Ukraine, as elsewhere, road accidents remain a pressing issue, and such incidents fuel discussions about tougher oversight—especially for drivers with a history of violations. The public and governmental response to this event could accelerate legal reforms and improve road safety measures.