The case of a military police officer who struck a child and fled in the Odesa region has been referred to court

The case involving a military district traffic police officer and a joint-stock company employee who struck a two-year-old boy in the Odesa region and fled the scene of the accident has been referred to court. He faces up to two years in prison.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police in the Odesa region.

According to the police, investigators have completed their investigation into the abandonment of a child in danger and have filed an indictment with the court. The man is charged under Part 1 of Article 135 of the Criminal Code.

This provision pertains to the willful failure to provide assistance to a person who is in a life-threatening condition and unable to care for themselves due to their young age, if that condition was caused by the person who left.

The maximum penalty is up to two years in prison. 

The incident occurred in early September in one of the villages of the Balt City Community in the Podilsky District during mobilization activities.

According to the investigation, military personnel from the Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (RTCC) and the Special Forces (SP) checked the documents of a man standing on the side of the road with his two-year-old son. As they were about to drive on, the driver, due to inattention, failed to notice the boy who ran out in front of the vehicle and struck him.

Realizing what had happened, the driver drove away without providing assistance to the child. According to the investigation, he wanted to avoid liability.

Witnesses called the police, and law enforcement officers quickly located and detained the man. The court ordered him to be placed under 24-hour house arrest as a preventive measure.

Police emphasized that the investigation into the traffic violation is ongoing. Experts are determining the severity of the child’s injuries. Once the forensic medical report is received, law enforcement will decide whether to file additional charges.

Ірина Глухова