A court in Uzbekistan's Navoi region has sentenced a bus driver to 10 years in prison for a road accident that resulted in the deaths of three people. The criminal court of Tamdy district found the man guilty and handed down the sentence.

The tragic accident occurred early on January 5, 2026, on the 167-168 kilometer stretch of the A-379 Navoi-Uchkuduk highway, which runs through a desert area. The bus, driven by a man born in 1986, was operating on the Zarafshan-Navoi route and carrying 47 passengers. Due to the driver's inattention, the vehicle veered off the road and overturned on a hillside. Three people, including a minor, died at the scene. Another 21 passengers sustained injuries of varying severity. Police, rescuers, and ambulance crews arrived at the scene about 35-40 minutes after the incident.

During the court hearing, the driver fully admitted his guilt and provided a detailed account of the accident. He stated that he was driving at about 70 km/h in light fog. While driving, he decided to drink water but dropped the bottle cap. His attempt to retrieve it from the floor led to a loss of control.

The court found the man guilty under Article 266, Part 3, Item 'a' of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (violation of traffic safety or vehicle operation rules resulting in fatalities). He was sentenced to 10 years in a penal colony. Additionally, he was banned from driving any type of vehicle for three years.

The court also ordered him to pay 147 million Uzbek soums in compensation for material damage to the limited liability company that owned the overturned bus.

Source: podrobno.uz