Taxi Driver’s Charge Reduced in Fatal Itäväylä Hit-and-Run
The criminal charge against a taxi driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run on Helsinki’s Itäväylä in late June has been reduced from aggravated drunk driving to the basic form, according to police. The incident resulted in the deaths of two people, a man and a woman, both around 30 years old.
The approximately 40-year-old driver is now suspected of basic drunk driving, two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, and aggravated endangerment of traffic safety. Yle reports that the reduction in the charge stems from circumstances uncovered during the preliminary investigation, though the driver’s blood alcohol level at the time of the incident remains undetermined (Yle). Chief Inspector Tuomas Lindholm of the Helsinki Police Department confirmed that efforts are ongoing to clarify the blood alcohol concentration in the final stages of the investigation.
The victims, who knew each other but were neither married nor related, were struck while standing in the middle lane of the three-lane road. Ilta-Sanomat (IS) notes that at least two other motorists were forced to swerve to avoid them, suggesting the victims had also endangered traffic safety. The police have gathered partial witness statements from other drivers but have not disclosed further details.
The taxi driver, who was not transporting a passenger at the time, was driving slightly above the 70 km/h speed limit, though the exact speed has not been confirmed. Technical investigations found no defects in the vehicle that could have contributed to the accident. The driver, who worked for Taksi Helsinki, was ending his shift when the incident occurred. Taksi Helsinki has since terminated its cooperation with him (IS).
The driver fled the scene but was later apprehended in a parking garage in the Itäkeskus area. He was detained to secure the investigation but released on 3 July. Lindholm stated that the police have a clear picture of the events and expect the case to be forwarded to the prosecutor within one to two months (Yle).
