Insect blamed in two Finnish road crashes on same day

Two drivers lost control after reacting to insects on the same day in Finland, with one passenger killed in a crash in Paltamo, Yle reports.

The fatal crash happened on Kiveslahdentie in Paltamo on Thursday evening. Police suspect the driver was distracted while trying to remove an insect from his face and consequently lost control of the car.

The passenger who died is suspected of not wearing a seat belt. All four people in the car were men aged between 20 and 30, according to Tero Väyrynen, communications chief at the Oulu Police Department. The three other occupants were taken to hospital and have already been briefly questioned.

Police say alcohol or other intoxicants were not involved, and speeding is not suspected. The driver has a valid driving licence. Police are examining the vehicle to determine whether a fault contributed to the crash.

The driver is suspected of either endangering traffic safety or aggravated endangerment of traffic safety and causing death.

Earlier the same day in Oulu, a driver lost control while trying to fend off a wasp. The car went over a barrier and ended up on a cycle and pedestrian path. The driver, a woman, was not injured, according to reports by Kaleva and Ilta-Sanomat.