Thursday, December 12, 2024
It has been a month since Ukrainian doctor Vitaliy Slavnov was fatally injured on Lazarská Street after being struck by a piece of falling ledge.
His tragic death has prompted a wave of public support, with more than half a million crowns already donated to his surviving wife and three children.
The General Health Insurance Company (VZP), which owns the building where the incident occurred, has also expressed its intention to assist the family.
The company suggests that a hidden defect dating back to the construction of the building, 125 years ago, may be the cause of the accident.
The tragic incident took place shortly before noon on August 8th. Slavnov was waiting at the Lazarská bus stop, seeking shelter from the rain, when a piece of the ledge detached from a nearby building.
The falling debris pierced through the roof of the shelter, killing Slavnov instantly. In the aftermath, firefighters removed an additional hundred kilograms of loose material from the building’s façade.
A public donation drive was quickly organized for Slavnov’s widow, Anna, and their children—Zlata, Bohd, and Nastya. As of 1 p.m. today, the account has accumulated CZK 525,000.
The insurance company confirmed it holds a policy for incidents like this. “We anticipate sending a specific proposal to the family’s legal representatives within a few days, based on the same terms as would apply to a Czech citizen,” their statement continued.
Since the incident, VZP has secured the damaged ledge, and further safety measures are ongoing at the site. “Our internal investigation suggests that a hidden defect likely caused the accident, originating from the building’s construction approximately 125 years ago,” the company added.
Meanwhile, police are investigating the case as manslaughter by negligence. Detectives have commissioned a report from a civil engineering expert, which is expected to take several months.
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