Almaty tank truck driver identified

Almaty police has identified the driver of the petrol tank truck who was killed in the accident today, Tengrinews.kz reports. Almaty Interior Department told that the man, 27, lived in Ili region of Almaty oblast. He worked as a driver in Helios company. According to the driver’s colleagues, he had two small daughters. The eldest daughter will go to school this year and the young one is still a baby. The police added that the driver’s body had been delivered to the Almaty Mortuary and forensic tests were started. The test will show if he was driving drunk. According to the Interior Department, a criminal case was initiated for failure to maintain the vehicle and releasing it into service with technical failures, for allowing access to the vehicle of persons under the influence of alcohol and for violation of traffic rules and rules of exploitation of vehicles by persons driving the vehicles. The persons responsible for the accident may be jailed for up to 5 years. Video by Kolotov Nikolay

Video by areke79 The petrol tank lorry exploded near Rixos hotel in Almaty at the crossing of Seifullin and Kabanbay Batyr streets. The truck’s driver died at the accident site. The fire moved on to RealSport sports shop, and #138 Kabanbay Batyr residential building. By Roza Yessenkulova