Driver Sentenced to Five Years for Fatal Collision at Farmer Protest Barricade

The accident in January 2024 claimed the lives of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter during a farmer protest in Ariège, France.

The driver, Vasili Aghayan, was sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated involuntary manslaughter after crashing into a barricade on January 23, 2024.
The victims, Alexandra Sonac, a 36-year-old farmer, and her 12-year-old daughter Camille, were killed in the collision, with Alexandra's husband severely injured.
The driver was found guilty of excessive speeding, driving on a closed road, lacking a valid French driver's license, and using a phone while driving.
The defense acknowledged the driver's culpability but argued that poor visibility due to rain and nighttime conditions contributed to the crash.
A tribute to the victims was held on the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, with hundreds attending to honor their memory.