Police investigate speeding and seat belt concerns after fatal crash

Police are investigating whether speeding played a role in a crash on the Krýsuvíkurvegur road that killed three young people early Monday, mbl.is reported. Police superintendent Sævar Guðmundsson said young people have increasingly been meeting in cars and other vehicles on Krýsuvíkurvegur, Nesjavallaleið and other roads.

“There seems to be some trend involving these kinds of gatherings and, in some cases, more carefree driving,” Guðmundsson said. Whether that happened in this case has not been confirmed.

The crash was Iceland’s deadliest since December 2018. Police plan to interview witnesses as part of the investigation. Statements may not be taken until after the weekend, and the number of witnesses to be called has not yet been decided.

Several other cars carrying young people were in the area when the crash occurred. Guðmundsson said it was highly likely that those people knew one another.

Police have not received many complaints about speeding on Krýsuvíkurvegur, and did not increase patrols there in response to the public discussion. Guðmundsson said the road and Nesjavallaleið are lightly used, particularly in the evenings and at night.

He said it would be preferable for people seeking excitement from driving to do so at designated locations, mentioning motorsport clubs.

Guðmundsson could not confirm whether the three victims were wearing seat belts. He said police were aware of discussion about young people speeding on lightly travelled roads without wearing belts.

“If that is the reality, it is risky behaviour that is completely reckless,” he said.

Guðmundsson questioned whether authorities were doing enough to educate the public and said police might need to make a greater effort together with the Icelandic Transport Authority and others. He added that a general lack of seat belt use among young people in traffic had not been particularly noticeable.

Flowers and candles have been left at the crash scene. Photographs taken there by an mbl.is journalist showed tyres and other debris. Guðmundsson said he was not certain that the tyre belonged to the car involved, adding that the usual practice is to remove all debris from a crash scene.