New police information on fatal collision in Virrat: mother likely fell asleep at wheel

Police investigating Friday’s fatal collision in Virrat say the mother driving the family car was likely asleep at the wheel when it struck a waste collection truck.

Rikoskomisario Kari Aaltio told Yle the strongest suspicion is that the mother lost consciousness while driving, though neither a medical episode nor substance use can be ruled out at this stage.

Both parents, who lived in the Helsinki region, died in the crash. Their children, born in the 2000s, were seriously injured and remain in intensive care at Tampere University Hospital. Police have not yet been able to question the children, so no new information about their condition is available.

The collision blocked Highway 66 for several hours. The waste truck, which came from the direction of Virrat toward Alavus, carried two people who were unharmed.

Police are treating the case as preliminary aggravated endangerment of traffic safety and negligent homicide, with two counts of aggravated assault also expected to be added. The mother, who was driving the passenger car, is currently the suspect.