Head of Ternopil Regional State Administration Valentyn Khoptian has refuted the rumors about his alleged involvement in a traffic accident which happened in Khmelnytsky region on December 31, 2011.
"I want to say first, that although the tragedy took place not in Ternopil region, I want to express my condolences to the people in distress. However, this event has become associated with my name. So once again I stress – neither I nor my family has anything to do with this tragedy. This also applies to employees of the administration, which I chair, including the driver," Khoptian said at the briefing.
On December 31, 2011, not far from the village of Vilkhivtsi, Chemerivsi district, unidentified driver of Toyota Land Cruiser moving along the Husiatyn – Horodok highway lost control, drove into oncoming traffic line and collided with VAZ 2109, whose driver is a resident of Olkhivka. According to the Interior Ministry, a 27-year-old driver and his 54-year-old passenger sustained injuries of varying severity and were hospitalized. Another passenger of VAZ 2109, a resident of Husiatyn, born in 1959, died at the scene from the injuries.
The driver of the Toyota car has disappeared from the scene after the accident. The search operations revealed that Toyota has a temporary registration certificate, issued by Ternopil Regional State Administration. According to preliminary data, the car belonged to a business structure, and was in the use of Ternopil Regional State Administration for some time, but than was returned to its owners.
The Interior Ministry’s branch in Khmelnitsky region has identified the driver who is likely to blame for the traffic accident. Investigation into the accident continues.
