Comedian and engineer Soelma Garmaeva dies in highway accident in Saint Petersburg

Soelma Garmaeva, a 37-year-old comedian and engineer from Irkutsk, was killed in a fatal traffic accident on the Koltsevaya Avtomobilnaya Doroga (Ring Road) in Saint Petersburg on June 13, 2026. Garmaeva had lived in Saint Petersburg since 2012, where she worked as an engineer overseeing construction of complex infrastructure projects, including an atomic power station in Turkey, while maintaining involvement in entertainment through stand-up comedy and appearances on comedy shows.

On the evening of June 13, Garmaeva departed from her usual routine and rented a car to travel via the Ring Road instead of her typical routes through main city streets. Her vehicle broke down midway along the highway. Following standard protocol, she pulled toward the safety barrier, activated hazard lights, and contacted roadside assistance, who advised her to wait for technicians. She also messaged her sister about the situation. Approximately three hours later, while Garmaeva was outside her vehicle placing an emergency warning triangle, another car traveling at high speed struck her vehicle with such force that it was thrown several meters. Garmaeva was trapped between the two vehicles; death was instantaneous.

Police reported that the driver of the striking vehicle was a 42-year-old man. A 27-year-old female passenger and a 6-year-old child in his vehicle were hospitalized. An investigation into the accident was initiated. Garmaeva's family decided to cremate her remains in Saint Petersburg, with her ashes to be buried in Irkutsk at a date to be determined.

Garmaeva was known in entertainment circles as a former member of the KVN (Club of the Funny and Inventive) team "Raisy," where she performed alongside comedy and stand-up work. She had graduated from Irkutsk Polytechnic University with a degree in engineering and was an experienced and careful driver who regularly used car-sharing services.