Driver of snowplow that collided with Total CEO's plane arrested

Moscow, Oct 21 (IANS/EFE) The snowplow driver involved in the Moscow plane crash that killed the president of French major Total, Christophe de Margerie, 63, and three crew members, has been arrested, declared his lawyer, Alexander Karabanov.

The lawyer told a Russian news agency that his client, Martinenkov Vladimir, 60, is currently under investigation.

Karabanov said "at the time of the accident Martinenkov was sober".

"My defendant suffers from chronic heart disease." He does not drink, and it can be confirmed by his family and doctors, he added.

Earlier, the spokesman of Russia's investigation committee, Vladimir Markin, had declared that it had been "established that the snowplow driver was drunk".

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said authorities would do everything possible to clarify the circumstances surrounding the accident as soon as possible.

The plane of Total president, a Dassault Falcon 50, crashed while preparing to take off after colliding with the snowplow on the runway.

In the accident, which occurred after midnight at Moscow's Vnukovo airport, the three crew members of the Falcon -- two pilots and a flight attendant -- were also killed.

Vnukovo spokeswoman Elena Krilova told media the plane failed to take off and caught fire after smashing into the vehicle which was in the middle of the tarmac.

Initially it was reported that the driver of the snowplow had died, but later the airport's press office said he had escaped unharmed.

De Margerie, who was married and was the father of three children, was on a business trip to Russia where Total has been active since 1991.

--IANS/EFE

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