BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/07/2008

Wanted driver detained in Russia over Belarus roadblock smash

MINSK, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - A man, who rammed a roadblock of civilian vehicles in Belarus in early March while drunk, has been detained in Russia, Belarusian traffic police said on Thursday.

On March 2, Roman Mentyuk was driving a Volkswagen at 112 mph (180 km/h) along a highway towards Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Traffic police decided to employ controversial tactics to stop the drunk driver and set up a make-shift road block using civilian vehicles lined across the highway.

The cars, containing five people as well as a three-year-old girl, blocked the highway when the drunken Volkswagen driver smashed into them. Luckily no one was killed, although several people were injured.

The incident caused a public outcry and criminal proceedings were launched against the officers, who were charged with abuse of office and misconduct. The court gave them suspended sentences.

After the crash Mentyuk was taken to a hospital, but later escaped. The 28-year-old man has a number of previous convictions and has spent a total of 10 years in jail.

Source:

http://en.rian.ru/world/20080710/113687557.html

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