Natalia Borodina has died after a horrific accident in the Dominican Republic. The 35-year-old mother-of-one was hanging out of a car window while on vacation when the vehicle got too close to the side of the road, according to the Daily Mail.
“She was a caring daughter and a good mother, and she supported her family,” Borodina’s former sister-in-law Anastasiya Akulenko told the media.
Here is what you need to know:
1. Borodina Was Topless as She Hung Out the Window & She Hit Her Head on a Street Sign
Borodina appeared to be having a great time as she rode around the Dominican Republic in a red Kia. She was topless, playfully sucking on her finger, and hanging half of her body out the window, enjoying the nice weather and the fresh air.
As the car made its way down the street, it got too close to a curb and Borodina’s head hit a street sign. It’s unclear exactly how fast the car had been traveling at the time of impact.
Borodina was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead, suffering severe injuries.
2. The Accident Was Caught on Camera
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As Borodina hung out the window of the car, her friend, Ivanna, 32, filmed her using a cell phone camera. The two women had been driving back to their hotel after a day at a beach near Punta Cana.
In the video, Borodina can be seen laying back into the wind. Although it happens quickly, you can see the point of impact. Borodina’s top half slams into the sign and someone can be heard screaming (likely Ivanna).
The video was posted on LiveLeak and has been viewed well over 1 million times. You can watch the “not safe for work” video on YouTube here. The video does contain nudity and may be disturbing to some as it shows the moment in which Borodina comes into contact with the street sign.
3. The Driver of the Car, Ivanna Boirachuk, Was Detained by Police
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After the accident, police detained the driver of the car, Ivanna Boirachuk, who had been traveling with Borodina and was the person who filmed her hanging outside of the car window. According to the Daily Mail, police initially believed that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.
According to The Sun, police have released Boirachuk, clearing her “of any wrongdoing.”
4. Borodina’s Other Friends Have Defended Her
Various people have been slamming Borodina for her antics, saying that she shouldn’t have been hanging out of the car and that she shouldn’t have been so reckless. Some people have come forward claiming that Borodina worked as an escort back in the Ukraine.
However, some of her friends have come to her defense, telling the media that she was a good person and that she wasn’t a prostitute.
“She helped her poor family with everything. Nobody else worked, only Natalia. She wanted to get everything, she was hoping for a better future. And anyone can make a mistake, why should we judge her by just one video? Are we all saints?” Elena Korolyova said, according to the Daily Mail.
“Natalia has a sister Yulia who lives in Chelyabinsk region, as does her 80-year-old mother. Yulia is raising her own son and she also took care of Natalia’s 11 year old son when she was away,” explained a family friend named Anzhelika Kling.
“She was not as escort as ill-wishers have said. She was successful without any prostitution, she earned well, and could afford a good holiday. Recently she lived in Cannes and was sorting out visas as a business,” her former sister-in-law said.
5. Borodina’s Family Doesn’t Have the Money to Have Her Body Transported Back to Russia
Borodina’s family needs about $20,000 to have her body sent back to Russia. According to the Daily Mail, Borodina’s family admitted that she didn’t have insurance when she traveled abroad.
“They don’t have the money needed to pay for the transportation of the body. We got to know about the tragedy from Internet. Then the investigator called the family and confirmed it. We don’t know what to do with the body now. There is no money for transportation. She may have to be cremated there,” Kling said.
