Police have captured a suspect who fled during a high-speed pursuit in southwestern Finland. The chase resulted in a fatal collision that killed an innocent bystander.
The incident occurred Friday evening on Highway 8 near Laitila. Officers were pursuing a driver who had ignored an earlier stop command.
During the pursuit, a police vehicle collided with a civilian car turning onto the road. The male driver was alone in his vehicle and died at the scene.
Authorities filed criminal reports for endangering traffic safety and negligent homicide. Because police officers were involved, the investigation responsibility transferred to the prosecutor's office.
The fleeing driver initially escaped but was apprehended over the weekend. Police suspect the individual of aggravated endangerment of traffic safety, drunk driving, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and resisting police.
The suspect admitted during questioning that he had fled from police. Finnish police pursuits follow strict protocols, but this tragedy shows how quickly situations can turn deadly for innocent road users.
Highway 8 connects major cities in southwestern Finland and sees heavy traffic. The region's police department continues investigating the exact circumstances of both the chase and the fatal collision.