Ushi crash: boxer Erik Mkhoyan, 22, a European champion, among the nine dead
- Published
- Place
- Ushi, Aragatsotn, Armenia
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Erik Mkhoyan, a 22-year-old Armenian boxer described by his community and relatives as a European champion and winner of several international tournaments, is among the nine people killed on Tuesday 3 November on the Ushi bends, on the Yerevan–Vanadzor road. A student at Yerevan State Medical University, he came from the village of Lernahovit in Lori province; his funeral took place on Thursday 5 November. The Investigative Committee has established the victims’ identities. Six of them were travelling in an Opel Zafira used as a taxi between Stepanavan and Yerevan, including its 56-year-old driver, an engaged couple and a 14-year-old girl. A couple and their 18-year-old son died in a Jeep Compass. The Russian-registered truck and trailer was driven by a 41-year-old Yerevan resident, who was injured. Two injured people have left intensive care.
Analysis
The death of a young, decorated athlete gives another face to this tragedy, one of the deadliest on Armenia’s roads in recent years. Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan has suggested possible brake failure, as there were no braking marks. Nikol Pashinyan stressed that the vehicle involved came from abroad, while defending the work of the road safety task force. He raised a possible ban on very old vehicles.
Possible consequences
The investigation into traffic violations causing several deaths continues; the truck’s technical condition will be central to expert checks.
