Charges eased for Helsinki taxi driver in fatal pedestrian collision

The suspected criminal charges against a taxi driver involved in a fatal incident on Itäväylä in Kulosaari have been reduced, according to investigation leader Tuomas Lindholm. The driver is now suspected of drunk driving, aggravated negligent homicide, and aggravated endangerment of traffic safety.

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The charge of drunk driving is now aggravated negligent homicide and aggravated endangerment of traffic safety.

Previously, drunk driving was also being investigated as aggravated. The change in charges is based on alcohol test results. Drunk driving is considered aggravated if the driver's blood alcohol content is at least 1.2 per mille or if they have at least 0.53 milligrams of alcohol per liter of exhaled air during or after driving.

The taxi driver, operating for Taxi Helsinki, struck two pedestrians on Itäväylä in Kulosaari in late June. The victims, a man and a woman both around 30 years old, died at the scene of the accident. Police reported that before the collision, the driver had completed at least a few customer trips, but the exact level of intoxication during those drives is unknown.

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Drunk driving is aggravated if the offender's blood alcohol content is at least 1.2 per mille or if they have at least 0.53 milligrams of alcohol per liter of exhaled air during or after driving.

Authorities still do not know why the victims were on the roadway. Lindholm indicated that the couple did not appear to be crossing the road at the time. The police investigation is expected to conclude in the fall, after which the case will be forwarded to the prosecutor.

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The police still do not know why the victims were on the roadway. According to Lindholm, the couple did not seem to be crossing the road.