Case of 'drunk' 6yo boy fatally run over by car shocks Russian society

A fatal traffic incident in the Moscow region in April has been widely discussed and debated. A child was hit by car while out in a yard and the woman driver had not been arrested. What made the story resonate further, is that alcohol was allegedly found in the child's blood.

On April 23, Olga Alisova, 31, is believed to have been driving her Hyundai Solaris through a residential district driveway in the town of Balashikha, east of Moscow. Six-year-old Alyosha Shimko was out on a walk with his grandfather, when the car, allegedly exceeded the speed limit, hit him. The child's body was dragged under the vehicle for several meters, and the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Olga Alisova © Vitaliy Belousov © Sputnik

Travel restrictions were ordered against the driver suspected of having killed the child. Investigators said the measure was in accordance with the law as the case involved an underage child.

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Alyosha's family was then summoned by a local investigator who presented the boy's father with the official findings of a forensic examination, revealing that a high dose of alcohol had been found in his late son's blood stream.

The forensic examination conclusion stated that the boy’s blood contained 2,7 per mille of alcohol, which means the boy was heavily intoxicated.

Alyosha's family vehemently denied the boy was drunk while addressing Russia's Investigative Committee, asking the higher authority to deal with the case.

The matter has attracted wide public attention after having spread on local online groups and other social media platforms. There’s also been unconfirmed reports that the suspect's husband was part of a local criminal gang.

In mid-June, Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a criminal case of negligence against the forensic experts who established that the deceased boy was drunk.

Earlier this week, Alyosha’s father, Roman Shimko, was recognized as the victim in the negligence case, allowing him to view evidence and approve or disapprove of experts.

Adding to the drama, there are conflicting reports on the second examination of the boy’s blood, with some sources saying it confirmed the presence of alcohol in his blood stream, while others insisting that the results were negative.

Discussions are now underway to decide whether or not Alyosha's body needs to be exhumed for further analysis.

In June, weeks after the incident, police in the Moscow region announced that a criminal case had been launched against the driver, suspected of traffic rules violations which resulted in a death.

This week, a court in the Moscow region issued an arrest warrant for the woman suspected of killing the boy. On Thursday, the municipal court in the town of Zheleznodorozhny ordered Olga Alisova to be arrested and detained until September 15.

An investigator who addressed the court said the suspect has violated her initial restrictions, has not been living at her address, has changed her work place, and has failed to attend meetings with investigators.

The official added that Alisova might had fled or put pressure on eyewitnesses and asked for the woman to be arrested.

While the investigation is ongoing, public opinion has largely sympathized with the boy's family.