Driver who fatally struck woman in Jõhvi gets suspended sentence

A court in Estonia's Viru County has sentenced a driver to a suspended prison term for fatally striking a woman on a pedestrian crossing in the town of Jõhvi last year, the county newspaper Põhjarannik reported.

The fatal crash occurred on June 10, 2025, on Rakvere Street in Jõhvi, where a 76-year-old man named Vladimir, driving an Audi A4, struck an 84-year-old woman on a pedestrian crossing near the Maxima store.

The woman was taken to hospital, but her injuries were so severe that she died three days later.

Expert findings

An expert examination found that the car was traveling at 52 km/h at the moment of impact. The collision occurred on the pedestrian crossing, and the driver had a technical opportunity to slow down and brake smoothly to yield to the pedestrian after she had stepped onto the crossing.

Prosecutors charged the driver with negligent violation of traffic rules resulting in death, an offense punishable by a fine or up to three years in prison.

The defendant reached a plea agreement with the prosecution, which was approved by the Viru County Court hearing the case. Under the agreement, he was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended with a two-year probation period, and had his driver's license revoked for four months.