The driver of the ATV that sank in Transbaikalia, killing five geologists, has been detained, TASS reported, citing the regional prosecutor's office.
The Kalarsky District Court granted the investigator's request and ordered a preliminary arrest for the 28-year-old man.
The ATV sank while crossing a body of water on September 16. Five people died, but the remaining four, including the driver, managed to swim out.
A criminal case has been opened under Art. 238, Art. 3 („Provision of services that do not meet safety requirements and lead to the death of two or more people by negligence“) of the Russian Criminal Code.
Previously, divers filmed a video of the ATV lying at the bottom of the lake. The footage was published by the Department of Civil Defense and Fire Safety of the Zabaikalsky Krai on its Telegram channel.
The footage shows the ATV lying at the bottom of the lake. Its nose was covered with sand. The video ends with a diver swimming to the open window of the ATV.
The ATV's brakes reportedly failed during the descent, causing it to fall into the lake at high speed. After the four survivors got out of the SUV, they walked 25 kilometers through difficult terrain to save themselves.