Two minors left unattended in their father's vehicle in Baku caused a fatal traffic accident after inadvertently setting the car in motion.
The Main State Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Operative Information Center-OMM that the incident occurred in the Khatai district of the capital. According to the report, local resident Ilham Gasimov left his VAZ vehicle with the doors open on a steep slope in front of his house and walked away. During his absence, his children, aged 6 and 7, entered the car and tampered with the gearbox, causing the vehicle to roll down the incline. While the children managed to jump out of the moving car, the vehicle gained speed and struck two female pedestrians. One woman sustained injuries, while the other died at the scene.
The Main State Traffic Police Department emphasized that the failure to follow safety protocols when parking a vehicle can lead to devastating consequences. "According to the Law on Road Traffic, when a vehicle is parked on a slope, the parking brake must be engaged, the wheels must be turned in a safe direction, and the doors must be locked before leaving the vehicle. Had these simple yet vital safety measures been taken, two families would not be facing this tragedy today," the official statement noted. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) urged all drivers in Azerbaijan to exercise maximum responsibility and strictly adhere to legislative requirements to prevent such occurrences.
In Azerbaijan, road safety remains a priority for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which frequently conducts awareness campaigns regarding the Law on Road Traffic. The Khatai district, where the accident took place, is one of Baku's most populous residential areas, characterized by varied terrain that requires heightened driver vigilance. This incident underscores the critical importance of parental supervision and the legal obligations of vehicle owners to secure their transport means against unauthorized use or accidental movement in urban environments.
