Russian Woman Awarded $200,000 after Being Boiled Alive

By EinsteinCMS Administrator

Published on January 03, 2008

Viktoria Frolova was driving in a vehicle with her boyfriend on the morning of the incident when their car suddenly became engulfed in a cloud of steam. About two hours earlier, hot water pipes had burst under Karavaevskaya Street, causing the asphalt of the roadway to cave in and a pool of boiling water to form within the crater.

Between the time when the break occurred and when Frolova’s car passed over the broken water main, there were reportedly no warning signs set up around the pit. When the woman’s car passed through the steam, it immediately dropped into the pool of boiling water, causing severe burns on the two occupants of the vehicle. In all, six people in addition to Frolova and her boyfriend allegedly fell victim to the unmarked pit.

Initially, Frolova’s injuries were thought to be fatal. After her recovery, her case was filed into a larger criminal negligence case for all the victims of the accident. Ultimately, the case was closed without naming punishment or awarding damages.

Frolova’s personal lawsuit against the communal enterprises of the city, which eventually resulted in her monetary compensation, claimed that communal services did not respond properly to the water main breakdown. The organization was found to be criminally liable in the court's decision and Frolova was awarded the 5 million ruble settlement.

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