Supreme Court refuses cassation; 94-year-old driver's two-year prison sentence for fatal Torņakalns crash takes effect

The Supreme Court has refused to initiate cassation proceedings, meaning the two-year prison sentence for a 94-year-old driver has taken effect following a tragic traffic accident in Torņakalns, Riga, that resulted in the death of a minor girl.

The court found that the arguments in the cassation complaint were essentially aimed at a re-evaluation of evidence and dissatisfaction with the appellate court’s conclusions regarding the sentence. Since the complaint was based on factual rather than legal considerations, the court declined to open cassation proceedings.

Initially, the Riga City Court had sentenced the man to three years and six months in prison, along with a five-year driving ban. However, upon hearing the defendant’s appeal, the Latgale Regional Court identified an additional mitigating circumstance – the admission of guilt and remorse. Consequently, the court reduced the prison term to two years while maintaining the five-year driving prohibition.

The accident occurred on December 9, 2023, on Jelgavas Street in Torņakalns. The man’s vehicle struck a minor born in 2007 on an unmarked pedestrian crossing, causing fatal injuries. The car then hit another young person and crashed into a park bench.

The court determined that the driver failed to comply with traffic regulations – he did not reduce speed or stop before the pedestrian crossing and did not yield to the pedestrian who had the right of way. At the time of the accident, the man was not under the influence of alcohol or other substances, and he held a valid medical certificate for driving.