Prosecution calls for heavy fine at least for MP Kimmo Sasi over fatal car crash

Sasi says blood pressure medicine may have caused him to black out

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Member of Parliament Kimmo Sasi (Nat. Coalition Party) believes that the fatal crash in which he was involved in Ylöjärvi in March may have been the result of fainting caused by the medication that he was taking for high blood pressure.
      Sasi arrived at Tampere District Court on Monday to respond to charges of endangering traffic safety and involuntary manslaughter. He was accompanied by his wife, who also testified at the trial as a witness. Sasi had no outside counsel, and represented himself at the trial.
      According to Sasi's version of the events, his car apparently moved into the oncoming lane after a sharp decline in blood pressure, and collided with a car coming in the other direction.
     
A 70-year-old man was killed in the crash and his wife was seriously injured.
      "I feel that it was an accident. I had no possibility to act otherwise", he said in court, asking for leniency.
      Sasi says that he did not fall asleep, because he had slept well the previous night, and he had no ordinary symptoms of fatigue. However, he says that he felt strangely tired shortly before the collision, but that the fatigue went away when he shifted his position in his seat. His final recollection before the crash was linked with steering.
      "I remember being surprised at how much I had to turn the steering wheel."
      Another driver, who managed to avoid colliding with Sasi's Ford Mondeo, says that he saw Sasi with his head up, and both hands on the steering wheel shortly before the collision. The brake lights did not go on.
     
The basis for the prosecution is the idea that Sasi should have understood that he was unfit to drive before getting behind the wheel and losing consciousness.
      "Sasi has said that he felt a jolt of some kind and nevertheless kept on driving. He should have stopped when he felt something strange", said prosecutor Antti Virtanen. The prosecution is calling for a severe fine, and possibly a suspended prison sentence.
      Sasi once had an unexpected fainting spell at the opera in the summer of 2006.
      The court will decide on the case on Friday.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  MP Kimmo Sasi to face charges over fatal car crash (31.7.2007)
  No medical explanation found for Sasi accident (9.3.2007)

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