The tank driver drowned after his T-90S tank slid into a large, water-filled canal on the Staratel training range near the city of Nizhny Tagil, the center of Russia’s tank industry on 5 December.
In the state-owned UralVagonZavod (UVZ) and the FSE “Nizhny Tagil Institute of Metal Testing” have confirmed the accident that happened at the Staratel training range with one of the main battle tanks and ended with the death of a corporation staff member.
“The management and the entire staff of the corporation express sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased. The investigation of the causes of the incident is carried out by representatives of state investigative bodies and a specially created commission, which consists of specialists from the state labor safety inspectorate, employees of the technical department of the UVZ, the enterprise security services and others. Uralvagonzavod will provide the necessary assistance to the family of the deceased, ”the press service of the UVZ added.
The press service of the state corporation also noted that until the end of the investigation the details of the incident will not be disclosed, personal information will remain closed.
A local source reported that T-90S tank during demonstration and trial plunged into the water-filled canal. The tank’s driver became trapped underwater by the combat vehicle.