Three dead in Holmestrand traffic in eleven days

Three young men have died in separate traffic accidents in Holmestrand, Vestfold, over the past eleven days, Dagbladet reports.

The latest fatality occurred Tuesday evening when a 19-year-old died in a motorcycle crash. Earlier in July, two men in their 20s were killed in separate motorcycle accidents in the municipality—one on Eikerveien north of Eidsfoss on July 5, the other in Hanekleiva on July 6.

Holmestrand mayor Alf Johan Svele (H) called the deaths “terrible” and expressed deep sympathy for the families, friends, and acquaintances of the victims. He emphasized the need for a report from the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to determine the likely causes, noting that the accidents occurred in different locations across the municipality.

Kristian Fosaas, duty officer at the South-East Police District, confirmed that the causes of the accidents remain unknown. “It is tragic, and these are young people. Beyond that, we must await the findings of the investigations,” he said. Police have not yet determined whether speed was a factor.

Svele urged road users to exercise caution. “Use your head. It’s better to arrive five minutes late than to never arrive at all. Speeding isn’t tough—it’s stupid,” he said.

Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap) expressed concern over the rising accident numbers, calling each death “profoundly tragic.” He stressed the importance of long-term, knowledge-based traffic safety work and urged all drivers and motorcyclists to stay alert, obey speed limits, and avoid driving under the influence. “We have no one to lose,” he said.

Earlier this summer, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration warned of unusually grim traffic statistics, with twelve fatal accidents recorded nationwide between July 4 and 11. Five of those involved motorcycles, all with male riders.