Summary:
A Ukrainian driver, who had recently arrived and was making his first delivery in Monaco, was involved in a traffic accident causing significant repercussions for the scooter driver he collided with, resulting in a lenient but guilty judgement for the Ukrainian driver.
Full Story:
A Ukrainian driver, making his first delivery in Monaco, was involved in a road accident in October 2022, causing significant repercussions for the scooter driver that he collided with.
Navigating Monaco can be challenging for someone unfamiliar with the area. A Ukrainian driver, who had fled the war with his family and worked for a Polish company, experienced this firsthand. On October 27, 2022, the Ukrainian driver, with his family, arrived in Monaco for the first time to make a delivery.
While driving his utility vehicle, he approached the junction between the Albert II tunnel and the Boulevard du Jardin Exotique. Confused, he hesitated and ended up slightly encroaching on the zebra crossing. Supported by an interpreter, he defended himself, saying, “The entrance to the tunnel is too narrow, and I had to encroach on the zebra crossing.”
After nearly coming to a halt, he decided to take the Boulevard du Jardin Exotique. However, while changing lanes, he failed to notice a scooter following closely behind. This resulted in a violent collision between the scooter and the van. The scooter driver, who did not attend the hearing, had informed the police that he did not see a turn signal.
During the trial, the Ukrainian driver expressed surprise at not having activated the turn signal. He claimed to remember turning it on but suggested that it might have automatically deactivated. Unfortunately, the surveillance footage did not provide a clear answer to this question. However, it did show that the scooter braked late. The scooter driver was traveling at a normal speed but believed that the utility vehicle was heading into the tunnel.
As a result of the accident, the Ukrainian driver rushed to assist the Armenian victim, asking in Russian, a shared language, if he was dead. The scooter driver suffered multiple fractures, including a fractured clavicle, and was given a 45-day temporary incapacity to work. Despite the impact on his health and finances, he did not seek financial compensation nor become a civil party in the case.
The prosecutor characterized the maneuver as “carelessness” but also highlighted the defendant’s effort to travel from Poland to attend the hearing, despite modest monthly earnings of €800. Considering his personal circumstances and the fact that this was his first offense, the prosecutor requested a suspended fine of €1,000.
After deliberation, the court found the Ukrainian driver guilty but granted him a dispensation from punishment.
Source:
Monaco Tribune
