A woman who ‘came back from the dead’ following a car crash in Ukraine has issued a heartrending appeal for justice after finally learning she lost her husband and sister in the carnage.
Oksana Berchenko was severely injured when Ukrainian heiress Alyona Zaitseva, 20, ploughed into pedestrians after running a red light in her Lexus driving at 64mph in Kharkiv city centre on October 18.
Berchenko, 27, was in a coma for six days and there were fears she would not survive.
And now, more than a month after the smash, that she has been told that she is a widow, and that her computer programmer husband Alexander Evteev, 27, and sister Diana, 22, were among the six killed.
Oksana Berchenko (centre) was severely injured when Ukrainian heiress Alyona Zaitseva, 20, ploughed into pedestrians after running a red light in her Lexus driving at 64mph in Kharkiv city centre on October 18. Berchenko’s husband, Alexander Evteev (right), and sister, Diana (left) were among six killed in the crash
Footage from the horrendous accident went viral showing the multi-millionaire oligarch Vasily Zaitsev’s daughter, Alyona Zaitseva (pictured), ramming a group of helpless pedestrians
Berchenko, 27, was in a coma for six days and there were fears she would not survive. She was just told that her husband and sister had died. The three are pictured above shortly before the crash
Footage from the horrendous accident went viral showing the multi-millionaire oligarch Vasily Zaitsev’s daughter ramming a group of helpless pedestrians.
Still in intensive care, and facing two years in hospital, Berchenko expressed her deep grief at her double bereavement but also issued a powerful call for justice amid fears that the wealthy in Ukraine can often buy their way out of punishments.
Reports have highlighted how Zaitseva’s wealthy parents have openly offered money as ‘compensation’ to victims and relatives of the dead.
‘It is a month since the moment when my happy life turned into the worst nightmare,’ Berchenko said in a message she tapped out on her mobile phone, revealed by TSN channel.
‘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.’
She bluntly called on witnesses, police, prosecutors and even the judge to reject any bribes.
Berchenko expressed her deep grief at her double bereavement but also issued a powerful call for justice amid fears that the wealthy in Ukraine can often buy their way out of punishments
Reports have highlighted how Zaitseva’s (pictured) wealthy parents have openly offered money as ‘compensation’ to victims and relatives of the dead
The privileged heiress (pictured) should not be allowed ‘to return to the same lifestyle she had before’ – but serve a long prison sentence, Berchenko said. The maximum she can face is ten years
‘I would like to speak to every person who is related to this tragedy in any way,’ she said. ‘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 pleaded with people not to accept any corrupt payments which are often suspected at court cases in Ukraine.
‘It happened to us on 18 October but we don’t know who may be in this situation tomorrow,’ she said.
She added: ‘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.’
The privileged heiress should not be allowed ‘to return to the same lifestyle she had before’ – but serve a long prison sentence, Berchenko said.
The maximum she can face is ten years.
Berchenko has deep scars on her face, head injuries and a severely broken pelvis. Once she has recovered she will need extensive plastic surgery
Berchenko, right, with her sister Diana, pleaded with people not to accept any corrupt payments which are often suspected at court cases in Ukraine
Berchenko said: ‘And what is left for me? My beloved sister won’t smile at me any more, and my Sasha (Alexander) will never hug me and say that he will always be with me.’
The widow has deep scars on her face, head injuries and a severely broken pelvis. Once she has recovered she will need extensive plastic surgery.
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.’
While there is no evidence bribes have been offered, 11 payments of around £1,400 each have been made to victims, according to TSN.
The cash came from Zaitseva’s 40-year-old mother using the name Tetyana Pavlivna Ivanova, reported the channel. She had previously offered ‘compensation’ to victims.
Alexander’s mother Svetlana was furious to find money had been paid into her account without her knowledge.
‘I want to return it,’ she said. ‘We are like dogs for them. They throw us a bone – and that’s it.’
She predicted about the heiress: ‘You must understand, she will not be jailed. Not in our country.’
Alexander’s mother Svetlana (left, with Alexander’s father) was furious to find money had been paid into her account without her knowledge.
While there is no evidence bribes have been offered, 11 payments of around £1,400 each have been made to victims and their families. Pictured above, Diana, left, and Alexander, right
Alexander’s mother Svetlana said that Berchenko (center) and her son (left) had been close. They’re pictured above with Diana (right)
She said her son and Berchenko had been so close.
‘People can live through the whole life and never see such love,’ she said, looking at a CCTV picture which shows her Alexander, Berchenko and her sister seconds before they were hit. ‘I understand that they were just too happy a family.’
Separately, Gennady Dronov, the driver of a VW Touareg hit by the Lexus before it ploughed into the pedestrians has been detained even though he appeared to move forward on a green light and to have been driving carefully.
Zaitseva’s father Vasily – an energy multi-millionaire – had earlier publicly demanded he should be investigated.
Dronov went on hunger strike this week after being told he could face up to ten years in prison, as his lawyers fear he will be made a fall guy for the crash.
In a message to victims, 61-year-old Vasily said: ‘On our knees we are asking families of the perished and injured in this horrific road accident to forgive our daughter.’
After the crash, Zaitseva, wearing £1,055 Ceinture Ankle Boots by luxury Spanish brand Balenciaga wept in court as bail was refused and she was remanded in custody.
In a tearful statement, she said: ‘I am sorry that this situation happened and people suffered. It is only this that truly concerns me now. I am hoping that the families will allow my parents to help them.’