A woman who escaped death by the whiskers after a Ukrainian heiress plowed into pedestrians has woken from a coma only to receive the heartbreaking news that her husband and sister both died in the crash. She is now calling for justice to be served.
Oksana Berchenko was severely injured when Alyona Zaitseva, the 20-year-old daughter of multi-millionaire Vasily Zaitsev, ploughed into pedestrians after jumping a red light at more than 60mph in her Lexus. Six people died as a result and many were injured. Oksana was in a coma for six days and is still recovering in intensive care.
Now, four weeks after the crash, the widow has been told her husband Alexander Evteev, 27, and 22-year-old sister Diana were among those killed.
Diana (left) was killed while her sister Oksana (right) survived
Footage from the horrendous incident, which happened in Kharkiv city centre on October 18, shows the oligarch's daughter ramming into a group of helpless pedestrians. Alyona's oligarch parents are alleged to have openly offered money as "compensation" to victims and relatives of the dead. Meanwhile, people are saying Alyona will most likely go free because of her parents' influence.
Oksana is devastated by the news that she's lost two people who meant the world to her and she is speaking out about it.
"It is a month since the moment when my happy life turned into the worst nightmare," Oksana said in a message she tapped out on her mobile phone. "On that day my beloved [husband], the kindest and brightest person, was killed on the spot, and my sister who loved life so much passed away later. The number of lives destroyed by this crash is bigger than the actual number of people killed."
Alyona Zaitseva
Oksana called on witnesses, police, prosecutors and the judge to reject bribes.
She said: "I would like to speak to every person who is related to this tragedy in any way. If you are a witness - give your evidence in the court room. If you are an investigator, judge...a prosecutor - please solve this case in a fair way according to the law. If you are offered a bribe, remember about justice and your duty - don't take this money, don't become a part of murders going unpunished."
She also pleaded with families not to accept any corrupt payments.
"It happened to us on October 18 but we don't know who may be in this situation tomorrow," she said. I want to believe that there is at least some justice left in this country and Zaitseva will be punished in the toughest way for taking away my beloved ones and ruining lives of many other people."
Oksana said the heiress should not be allowed "to return to the same lifestyle she had before" - but serve a long prison sentence. The maximum she can face is ten years.
The widow added: "And what is left for me? My beloved sister won't smile at me any more, and my Sasha [her husband's nickname] will never hug me and say that he will always be with me."
Her father Igor, 55, said: "Oksana is just lying there, looking at the ceiling. And you see tears in the corners of her eyes, running and running."
Oksana has deep scars on her face, head injuries and a severely broken pelvis as a result of the incident. Once she has recovered she will need extensive plastic surgery.
Meanwhile, 11 payments of around £1,400 each have been made to victims. Alyona Zaitseva's 40-year-old mother using the name Tetyana Pavlivna Ivanova. Svetlana, the mother of Oksana's dead husband, was furious to find money had been paid into her account without her knowledge.
She said: "I want to return it. We are like dogs for them. They throw us a bone - and that's it. You must understand, she will not be jailed. Not in our country."
No comments: