Five-Car Pile-Up on Turku Highway Causes Fatality and Injuries
A serious traffic accident on the Turku Highway (E18) in Espoo on Saturday afternoon resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, with authorities investigating the incident as a potential crime. The collision involved five vehicles and led to significant traffic disruptions before the road was reopened.
Accident Details and Casualties
The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 PM near the stretch between the Ring II and Tuomarila junctions in Espoo. According to the Western Uusimaa Rescue Department, eight individuals were transported to the hospital for examination, though no serious injuries were reported (Yle). However, Helsingin Sanomat (HS) later confirmed that one person—a man traveling in the front passenger seat of one of the vehicles—died in the crash.
The collision involved three vehicles traveling toward Turku that struck a car moving in the wrong direction on the motorway. Detective Chief Inspector Valtteri Kemppi of the Southwest Finland Police stated that the male driver of the errant vehicle had steered through a service opening onto the oncoming lane, leading to the crash. "The collision was severe. My understanding is that the cars were completely wrecked," Kemppi said (HS). The exact speeds of the vehicles involved remain unknown, though summer speed limits were in effect at the time.
Investigation and Suspected Crime
The driver of the vehicle that entered the oncoming lane is under investigation for multiple offenses, including aggravated involuntary manslaughter, aggravated endangerment of traffic safety, aggravated assault causing bodily harm, aggravated drunk driving, and drug use. Authorities confirmed that the suspect, an adult man, was intoxicated and had used drugs prior to the incident (HS).
The motive behind the driver’s actions remains unclear. Both the suspect and the deceased were adult men.
Traffic Disruptions
The accident caused major congestion on the Turku-bound lanes of the motorway, as one lane was closed during rescue operations. The Western Uusimaa Rescue Department announced at approximately 4:00 PM that the situation had been resolved and the road reopened to traffic (Yle).
