Teenager Gets 7.5 Years for Crash That Killed Three Schoolgirls in Imishli; Police Speed Was 159 km/h

The Lankaran Serious Crimes Court gave a 17-year-old driver, Beylar Bayramli, a 7-year, 6-month prison sentence for a sad car accident in Imishli, Azerbaijan, on January 18, 2025. Three young schoolgirls died in the crash.

The accident happened when a Mercedes-Benz 190, driven by Bayramli, who didn't have a license, hit a BMW belonging to the State Traffic Police (DYP), driven by officer Ulvi Ahmadov. Bayramli was charged with driving without a license, breaking traffic rules, causing the death of three people, and leaving the accident scene.

Speed and Conflicting Stories

The main question at trial was about how fast the police car was going.

The indictment said that Bayramli, driving his uncle's car, turned left at an intersection near the Building for the Disabled and didn't yield to the police BMW. The prosecution said that Bayramli knew the danger of what he was doing but went ahead anyway, thinking he could avoid the accident.

Police officer Ulvi Ahmadov said in court that he was driving at a speed of 60–70 km/h with his lights and siren on. He said the Mercedes-Benz suddenly pulled out in front of him. He said he passed out after the crash and only learned about the deaths later in the hospital.

But the defense gave a different story, supported by expert testimony. Bayramli said that the BMW was very far away when he started his turn, so he thought he could make the turn safely. He said the crash happened because the police car was speeding. The expert examination said that the police BMW was traveling at an average speed of 159 km/h at the time of the crash. Bayramli also said that the police officer could have avoided the crash if he had judged the distance and situation better. He said that the BMW only used its horn right before hitting him and didn't use its brakes before impact.

What Happened After the Crash

Bayramli denied running away from the scene. He said that after the crash, he ran to the police car, saw the officer unconscious, and panicked when he saw the school children on the ground. He called his uncle, who told him to go to the police station, which he did.

Three children died in the accident: Zumrud Miraliyeva, a 6th-grade student, and Ayan Mammadova, a 4th-grade student, died right away. Mahbuba Alizade, Ayan's classmate, was taken to Baku but died.

The families of the children forgave Beylar Bayramli during the court process and said they had no complaints against him.

Aftermath and Protests

After the deadly crash, people in Imishli protested. Residents turned over a DYP car and shouted "Resign!" Local people said that at least 100 people were arrested during the protests and tortured, especially those who shouted "Resign."

In July, 19 people were sentenced for hooliganism related to the protests. Eight got sentences from 1 to 4 years in prison, and the other 11 got 1 to 4 years of restricted freedom.