Lorry-driver sentenced to 4½ years in prison

The sentence was passed in Hässleholm district court at the end of the main proceedings on Thursday.

– It has been established that the man has caused the accident. He has admitted to being drunk while driving, something that carries a severe punishment in this case, since he was driving a heavy vehicle.

– Other offences, namely gross negligence while driving, causing fatalities and inflicting grievous bodily harm, have occured because of a serious disregard of the traffic regulations.

– The accused has deliberately consumed a large amount of alcohol and let the lorry's engine run for 27 hours in order to block the effect of the alcohol interlock safety device (alkolås), says district court judge Kristina Andersson.

The man who was sentenced admitted only to gross negligence while driving. He has no recollection of the accident on 25th November 2020 or the circumstances surrounding it.

The district court will deliver its written verdict in one week. Emelie Eriksson and Niklas Larsson will study the sentence and decide whether an appeal should be made.