Prosecutor seeks prison for teenage driver in fatal Outokumpu crash

A prosecutor is seeking two to three years in prison for a driver who was 17 when he caused a fatal crash in Outokumpu, Yle reported. The trial began in North Karelia District Court on Thursday.

The now 18-year-old is accused of drunk driving, aggravated endangerment of traffic safety, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated assault. His blood alcohol level was 0.85 per mille.

The crash happened at about 8pm on a Friday last October at the junction of Kuusjärventie and Keretintie, where the speed limit was 60 km/h. The teenager was driving at least 160 km/h when his car collided with an oncoming passenger car. The other car’s 75-year-old driver died.

Four passengers aged 16 to 18 were in the teenager’s car. They suffered injuries including fractures, cuts, a lung contusion and bleeding in the brain. One passenger sustained a serious brain injury.

The driver had a category B licence granted under an age-exemption permit. The court will issue its verdict later.