MOSCOW, September 25 (Itar-Tass) — Driver Alexander Maximov, who fatally ran over seven persons at a bus stop in Moscow, was hospitalized, the press service of the Interior Ministry’s department for the Russian capital, said on Tuesday.
"On medical indications, and in connection with the injuries related to the car crash, Alexander Maximov was sent to a specialized medical facility," the police said noting that the man would be guarded.
On Monday, Moscow's Tverskoi court sanctioned Maximov's arrest until November 22. He was brought to the court's session with his head bandaged and signs of brilliant green on his face and hands. "I'd love to recuperate in hospital," Maximov told the judge.
"On September 22, Maximov's car whose speed reached 200 km/h according to some reports, swerved to a bus stop and rammed a group of persons, killing seven. Among the fatalities were five adolescents, winners of the Moscow creativity festival for handicapped children.
Police said Maximov had been quite drunk. The driver himself admitted that he'd been drinking for two days before getting into the car.
A preliminary test found blood alcohol levels at 1.55 promille.
In 2010, Maximov's driving license was suspended for drunk driving.
Criminal proceedings over the fatal road accident were opened under Article 264 of Russia’s Criminal Code /violation of traffic rules by a person in a state of alcoholic intoxication which resulted in the death of two or more people”/. The maximum penalty is nine years in prison and suspension of driving license for up to three years.
On Monday, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev offered to toughen the punishment for road accidents caused by drunk drivers.
"Perhaps, we should consider tougher criminal responsibility for these crimes, because even with such terrible consequences as the latest car crash in Moscow, the responsibility is rather moderate," Medvedev said at a meeting with his deputies.
Head of the State Duma committee for civil, criminal, arbitration and procedural legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov /United Russia/ told Tass he could not rule out that the maximum limit for penalties for drunk driving that results in fatal car crash might be raised.
"If it's about mere drunk driving, fines must be hiked of course. But if we talk fatalities, the effective maximum penalty of nine years /in jail/ "may be toughened, but not to life imprisonment, as some suggest.
"Because in that case, the sentence for robberies will be more lenient, or we'll give a stimulus to this person to run away and so on. But the 9-year-limit might be raised," the lawmaker confirmed.
Head of the United Russia faction Andrei Vorobyov said his colleagues had proposed to fine drunk drivers at least 100,000 roubles, while reoffending should be punished by suspending driving license for life or an extend period.
"Even if drunk driving has not caused fatalities, but the person has reoffended, he might face criminal punishment," Vorobyov said.
Moscow road police stopped over 80 drunk drivers on Monday, September 24, the first day of weeklong monitoring.
On Tuesday afternoon, the committee for constitutional legislation and state development at the Russian parliament planned to discuss with road police officials amendments to the legislation in connection with the latest tragic car crashes.
Road police suggested confiscating cars from reoffenders in drunk driving cases.
Chairman of the Committee Vladmir Pligin earlier said “at least five provisions of the Code of Administrative Offense require a substantive analysis. They cover driving along an incoming lane, exceeding speed limit and disuse of safety belts and helmets."