The case in summary: A man in his 20s is accused of negligently causing the death of another in a traffic accident in Harstad in January last year. The defendant pleads guilty to all counts, including negligent causing of death and speeding. Video from the lorry’s dashboard camera showed that the defendant was traveling at a speed of “over 70 km/h” in a 70 zone. The defendant described the time after the accident as “tough” and expressed an extreme sense of guilt. The defense counsel for the defendant believes that no restitution compensation should be paid, as he does not believe that gross negligence has been shown. The National Accident Investigation Board’s report after the accident, which suggests better winter training for lorry drivers, can be used in the defense of the defendant’s guilt. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I feel extreme guilt. That’s what the man in his 20s said when he entered the witness box in Midtre Hålogaland district court on Wednesday. Accused, among other things, of negligently causing the death of another. The accident on RV83 in Harstad happened on 3 January last year. The back of the lorry the defendant was driving hit an oncoming car, which led to the death of a woman in her 30s. – Do you plead guilty? asked district court judge Tom Martin Bersvendsen. – Yes, answered the accused man in his 20s to all charges. The most serious point in the indictment is negligent causing of death, and can be punished with imprisonment for up to 6 years. The charge: The man in his 20s is charged with the following: Section 281 of the Criminal Code – for negligently causing the death of another. Section 31 first paragraph of the Road Traffic Act, cf. § 3 – for having violated the provision that everyone must travel with consideration and be alert and cautious so that no danger can arise or damage be caused and so that other traffic is not unnecessarily obstructed or disturbed. Road Traffic Act § 31 first paragraph, cf. § 5, cf. sign regulations § 8 sign number 362 “Speed limit” – for driving in violation of sign no. 362 “Speed limit” which prohibits driving at a higher speed than the stated number of km/h. Video of the accident It was on 3 January last year that the fatal accident took place, when the now accused man in his 20s skidded in a right-hand curve. The wagon train then crossed into the opposite lane, where it hit the passenger car. The defendant must have maintained a speed of at least 79 km/h in a 70-zone. The man is also charged with this offence. The incident took place only a quarter of an hour after the defendant had started the trip. In the courtroom, the prosecutor in the case, police attorney Børge Bertelsen, showed a number of photos from just before the collision, as well as the extensive damage to the railing. There you could clearly see the enormous forces that had been involved in the accident. – A dashboard camera was found in the truck, Bertelsen said in court. About 500 meters north of the accident scene, where the defendant came from, there is a sign showing the current speed. Video from the truck’s dashboard camera, which was shown in court, showed that the speed was measured at “over 70”, in what was also a 70 zone. – This shows “over 70” when the speed is over 77 km/h, explains Bertelsen. – I don’t know if I looked at it. I don’t remember, said the defendant, and said that he did not remember the last time he looked at the speedometer. The defendant himself followed the screen in front of him when the video was shown. District judge Tom Martin Bersvendsen on his way into room 1 in Midtre Hålogaland district court on the first day of the trial. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news In the video, you could clearly see that it was dark and snowy at the scene, and that the defendant frequently used high beams and windshield wipers. Before the accident occurred, the lorry turned to the left, before you could clearly see a “shaking” in the camera from the collision with the car. The lorry then continued towards the rock wall on the right, before it crossed into the oncoming lane and into the ditch, where the lorry overturned. – What makes you end up a little to the left? Bertelsen asked. – I don’t know, said the defendant, before he continued: – I thought I was in my tracks, until I saw the video evidence. COURT: The case goes to Midtre Hålogaland District Court on Wednesday and Thursday. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Preget The defendant described the time after the accident as “tough”, and said that he feels an extreme sense of guilt. – I don’t think I will get into a truck again, he said, clearly affected. To several questions, both related to speed, the current and permitted weight of the lorry and the number of stops that day, he replied that he did not remember. Towards the end of the trial’s first day, the defendant’s mother entered the witness box. There she described the last year as very tough, and says her son’s sense of guilt is great. – I hope he gets the help he needs to live with it. Furthermore, she expressed concern that her son will have to go to prison, which she assumes will be the case. She herself thinks this will be difficult for her son. WITNESS: Several witnesses were called on Wednesday to explain themselves to the court. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Did not brake Bertelsen says that the car continued forward approximately 20 meters after the collision with the lorry, where the car was hit in the left corner. – We can see that the car has moved towards the guardrail. I interpret it as rolling tracks, not brakes, said one of the police officers who responded to the accident, and who explained himself to the court on Wednesday. The police officer himself described the driving conditions at the site as “bad”. After the court’s first break, it became clear that the defendant’s defense counsel does not believe that restitution compensation should be paid. – The requirement for compensation to be paid is that gross negligence is shown. It is not, said defender Geir Olav Pedersen. DEFENDER: Lawyer Geir Olav Pedersen defends the accused man in his 20s. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Report In the run-up to the trial, there has been tension as to whether the National Accident Investigation Board’s report after the accident, which came out last week, will be used in the defense of the defendant’s guilt. In the report, the Accident Investigation Board asked for better winter training for lorry drivers. – The National Accident Investigation Board believes that driver training for heavy vehicles should have a more thorough approach to safe driving on winter roads, writes the Accident Investigation Board in the report. In court, Pedersen indicated that the report will be used. It is not yet clear what the defender will then discuss when he enters the witness box on Thursday. The driver of the lorry was an apprentice in a transport company. The driver had held a driving license for class C for about two years when the accident occurred. On Thursday, the trial continues in room 1. Then, among other things, the defendant’s defense attorney will hold his proceedings. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news The National Accident Investigation Agency believes in the report that traffic safety can be increased by having both the theoretical and practical teaching for driver’s license class C have a more thorough winter approach. – In light of this, it is important that the curriculum provides clear guidelines. This can again be reflected in theory books and teaching so that students acquire sufficient competence in the area. Section head for road user training in the Norwegian Road Administration, Dag Terje Langnes, said when the report became known that they had read the advice. – We believe that the current regulations and teaching plan cover the topic of driving on winter roads to a sufficient extent. At the same time, we take note of what the Accident Investigation Board points out, he said.
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The fatal accident on RV83 in Harstad – the defendant pleads guilty – news Troms and Finnmark
