Court of Appeal reduced drink-driver's sentence – awarded firefighter died in cycling accident
The Court of Appeal for Eastern Finland has shortened the prison sentence of a drink-driver. An intoxicated driver struck a cyclist, a firefighter, to his death in Kangasniemi in autumn 2024.
Court of Appeal reduced drink-driver's sentence – awarded firefighter died in cycling accident
The Court of Appeal for Eastern Finland has reduced the prison sentence for drink-driving. A 52-year-old man received one year and eight months of unconditional imprisonment.
The lower court's sentence was two years. The man appealed the decision and sought a suspended sentence. He cited an earlier medical episode, which he believed had diminished his decision-making capacity. The Court of Appeal rejected this reasoning.
The accident occurred in Kangasniemi on 1 October 2024. Mikko Saastamoinen, a 43-year-old firefighter, was cycling when a car coming towards him veered off the road. The wheels locked, and the vehicle struck the cyclist. He travelled dozens of metres and eventually struck rocks. The injuries were fatal.
The driver had 1.04 per mille of alcohol in his blood. He had also used cannabis. The man was convicted of causing death by negligence, endangering traffic safety, drink-driving, and a drugs offence. The Court of Appeal described his behaviour as reckless towards other road users.
The convicted man must pay the victim's relatives compensation worth thousands of euros. The decision is not final; leave to appeal may be sought from the Supreme Court.
Saastamoinen worked for the South Karelia rescue service and was awarded firefighter of the year in 2020. He was the father of two children.
Source: Iltalehti
Source: Iltalehti