Armenian News-NEWS.am has ascertained new details on Saturday morning’s tragic road accident in Armenia’s Lori Province, nearby Saratovka village.  

Stepanavan Hospital Director Robert Kotsinyan told us that the seven dead, who were youth between the ages of 20 and 25, were heading for Stepanavan town from Tashir town.

“According to preliminary theory, an animal had come in front of them on the road, they lost control of the car, then it crashed into a tree, and a fire broke out,” the hospital director said. “Everyone died on the spot.”

Saratovka village mayor Garnik Mardoyan, for his part, told us that a badger had come in front of the vehicle, they hit a tree, the natural gas tank in the vehicle exploded, and the youth were burned alive. He noted that the youth were heading to the Holy Savior Monastery in Stepanavan. Mardoyan added that he knew the parents of the youth who died, and some of them were university students and there were also married ones among them. 

As reported earlier, the Rescue Service of Armenia received information on Saturday at 12:39am. Accordingly, a vehicle was on fire on the Tashir-Stepanavan motorway in the Lori Province. Two fire and rescue squads were dispatched to the scene.

 

It was found out that the automobile had gone off road at the aforesaid motorway for yet unknown reasons, hit the rocks, and burst into flames.

Seven youth had died as a result of this road accident. Five of them were from Tashir town in the Lori Province. They are: Vanik Mardoyan, 21; Karen Khachatryan, 22; Gevorg Poghosyan, 24; Vahag Albertyan, 24; and Arman Tonoyan, 22. Gaspar Ghukeyan, 22, on the other hand, lived in Metsavan village of the Lori Province while Artur Balyan, 22, was from capital city Yerevan.

The fire was put out at 1:33am.

Another fire and rescue squad was dispatched to the scene.

The vehicle—with five victims inside—was taken to the area of Stepanavan city medical center to disassemble it and remove the corpses. The fire and rescue workers disassembled the automobile at 9:06am, brought the dead bodies out, and transferred them to the morgue staff.