MOSCOW, January 12 (RAPSI) – The Investigative Committee of Russia launched a negligence case after a man’s death at the highway near Orenburg, city  in the southern Ural region, that was closed because of a blizzard, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

The weather conditions in the Orenburg Region worsened dramatically during the first few days of the New Year. Low temperatures combined with blizzards made it impossible to drive at the region’s automobile tracks.

On January 3, dozens of cars were blocked at the Orenburg – Orsk highway because of weather conditions. Rescuers managed to evacuate 80 cars, 12 people got frostbites, one person died. The highway  was opened several days later.