Dementia finding shifts case toward treatment order after Copenhagen crash

A 76-year-old man had frontotemporal dementia when he drove into people at Dronning Louises Bro in central Copenhagen, according to a mental examination read out in Copenhagen City Court and reported by DR.

The examination found that his dementia was already severe enough at the time of the accident to mean he was legally considered mentally ill in a forensic psychiatric sense.

Seventeen people were injured in the crash, including three seriously.

Special prosecutor Karina Winther said the examination recommended a treatment order for the man. Prosecutors are therefore no longer seeking a prison sentence.

The man has admitted driving the car that hit several people near the bridge, but denies the charges that the incident occurred under particularly aggravating circumstances.

There is no suggestion that he deliberately drove into cyclists or people sitting at two cafes. However, Winther argued that he should have known he could not drive the car safely when he got behind the wheel.

“This accident should never have happened,” she said in court.

The man was on his way to visit his wife at hospital when the crash occurred. The verdict is expected later on Thursday.