A car accident in Nizhny Tagil resulted in the deaths of three young people after their vehicle plunged into a pond. The incident occurred on the night of July 8, around 00:40, when a Lexus SUV, traveling at high speed, crashed through a barrier and fence before entering the water.

The victims were identified as 19-year-old driver Alexander Storozhev, and passengers 20-year-old Veronika Svatova and Anastasia Shamrina. Rescuers were unable to begin the recovery operation until daylight due to safety regulations and the need for specialized equipment.

The rescue operation commenced at 08:00, involving a team of divers, a crane, and other emergency services. Authorities had to de-energize power lines and tram lines in the area to ensure safety during the recovery process. The car was found upside down at a depth of approximately five meters, complicated by the presence of pillars from an old dam.

An auto expert estimated the Lexus was traveling at a minimum speed of 170 km/h at the point of impact, based on video footage and publicly available data. Eyewitness video suggests speeds as high as 191 km/h. The impact was so severe that the right wheels of the car lifted off the ground before the crash.

Experts say that the high speed and impact likely rendered the occupants unconscious. Opening the car doors underwater would have been nearly impossible due to the water pressure. The only chance of escape would have been to open a window, but the condition of the passengers after the initial impact likely prevented them from doing so. The bodies were recovered within half an hour, and the car was retrieved approximately two hours later.