94-year-old driver sentenced to two years in prison for fatal Riga crash

A two-year prison sentence has taken effect for a 94-year-old driver involved in a fatal traffic accident in Riga's Torņakalns district. The Supreme Court's decision not to consider a cassation appeal means the sentence, reduced from the initial ruling, now stands.

The accident occurred on December 9, 2023, when the then 91-year-old driver struck a minor pedestrian on an unregulated crosswalk on Jelgava Street. The young victim died from her injuries. The vehicle then continued onto the sidewalk, hitting another pedestrian and crashing into a park bench.

Initially, the Riga City Court sentenced the driver to three years and six months in prison and suspended his driving privileges for five years. However, the Latgale Regional Court, reviewing the driver's appeal, recognized his admission of guilt and remorse as mitigating factors. This led the court to overturn the initial sentence regarding the penalty and reduce the prison term to two years, while maintaining the five-year driving ban.

Court documents indicate the driver failed to adhere to traffic regulations, did not reduce speed, and did not yield to the pedestrian who had the right of way. The driver was not intoxicated at the time of the accident, and possessed a valid medical certificate for driving. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, stating that the arguments were primarily factual and expressed dissatisfaction with the appellate court's conclusions on sentencing, rather than legal errors.