An accident occurred on the Samara – Moscow highway in Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation on September 1, as a result of which eight Uzbek citizens were killed. A Tajik citizen was driving the minibus in which the Uzbeks were traveling, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the region reports.

“The driver, a citizen of Tajikistan born in 1992, driving a Hyundai Grand Starex car, was driving towards Moscow. A 32-year–old man lost control of the vehicle, as a result of which he hit an obstacle - a bump, followed by overturning,” - the report says.

In addition to the driver, there were 11 people in the car, all citizens of Uzbekistan. As a result of the accident, 8 people were killed, 4 more people, including the driver, were injured and hospitalized. The names and ages of the victims have not been revealed.

Investigators and traffic police continue to work at the scene. A number of examinations and studies have been appointed. The preliminary cause of the accident is a burst tire on the minivan.

A criminal case has been opened on the fact of an accident under part 5 of Article 264 (“Violation of traffic rules and operation of vehicles, resulting in the death of two or more persons by negligence”) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This article provides for penalties ranging from forced labor for up to five years and to imprisonment for up to seven years.