An 18-year-old unlicensed driver has confessed to police about driving into the Aura River in Turku. He admitted traveling at 120 km/h while intoxicated.
The incident occurred in late August when the car plunged from Mylly Bridge into the river. All three occupants managed to escape the vehicle themselves. Bystanders then helped pull them from the water using a rope.
Police confirm the driver was operating the vehicle without a license. He faces charges of serious endangerment of traffic safety, aggravated drunk driving, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The driver's blood alcohol level measured 1.66 promille, more than three times Finland's legal limit of 0.50 promille. He told investigators his speedometer showed 120 km/h just before the car left the road.
According to the police investigation, the car veered onto the wrong side of the road at the intersection of Mylly Harbour and Eastern Rantakatu. It then crossed over a traffic divider before crashing through the bridge railing into the river.
The vehicle also reportedly struck a curbstone along the riverside walking path before entering the water.
Witnesses reported the car emerged from the Mylly Tunnel at high speed. Investigators noted the car nearly hit a person on an electric scooter on Mylly Bridge just before the crash.
The preliminary investigation has concluded, and the case now moves to prosecution consideration in Western Finland. The driver has admitted to all offenses under investigation.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about young, unlicensed drivers and alcohol-related traffic violations in Finnish cities. The combination of high speed, intoxication, and lack of driving experience created a potentially fatal scenario that fortunately ended without serious injuries.