Helsinki bridge construction managers face charges after fatal boat collision

Three managers responsible for Helsinki’s Kruunuvuori bridge project are on trial for negligent homicide and causing bodily harm after a boat struck an unmarked steel beam at the construction site in May 2023, killing one man and severely injuring another, Yle reports.

The prosecution alleges the accused failed to ensure the temporary bridge structures did not pose a hazard to watercraft. The steel beams, attached about one metre above the waterline, were difficult to see in low light and lacked required warning lights or signs, despite plans for such safety measures. The defendants, who deny wrongdoing, were senior officials for the project’s main contractor.

The collision occurred around 11:20 PM when two men, both in their 30s, piloted a motorboat under the work bridge in dim conditions. The beam struck them in the head, fatally injuring the driver and leaving the passenger with life-threatening head trauma. Authorities discovered the wreck the following day after reports of an abandoned boat drifting in Kruunuvuorenlahti bay; the injured man had been rescued from a nearby islet.

Defence lawyers argue the victims bear responsibility, claiming they deliberately entered a prohibited area at high speed, without lights, and while intoxicated. They contend that even with proper warnings, the boat—operated under the influence—could have struck other structures. Police initially suspected the boat’s owner of negligent homicide but no charges were filed.

The prosecutor seeks fines for the three defendants. A verdict is pending.