A Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) vehicle collided with a taxi at the intersection of Lempääläntie and Kuokkamaantie in Tampere on Saturday, claiming the life of a middle-aged taxi driver.
Tommi Juvonen, Detective Chief Inspector with the Central Finland Police department, told Yle that both cars were headed north on Lempääläantie towards Tampere's city centre.
The person driving the FDF vehicle collided with a taxi stopped at a traffic light.
According to a release from the Finnish Army, the driver of the Toyota Hilux is a who was a paid staff member on a fixed-term contract in the FDF. There was no one else in the vehicle at the time of the incident and it was not being driven in connection with a FDF operation.
The FDF Toyota Hilux involved in the accident is registered to the Armoured Brigade.
Tampere-based newspaper Aamulehti reported that the driver who died in the crash was known for his excellent customer service. Taksi Tampere CEO Tero Kallio also said that the driver received an award for his customer service at the end of last year.
According to Juvonen, the FDF vehicle was driving at a high speed before it crashed, based on the damage to the vehicles. More precise information on the speed will become available as the preliminary investigation progresses.
The person who was driving the FDF car is suspected, among other things, of violent resistance to a public official. However, Juvonen confirmed that the individual did not resist the arrest itself.
Suspected firearms offence
The FDF member is also suspected of a firearms offence, but Juvonen said that the suspected crime did not involve an actual firearm.
A firearms offence in Finland can also be committed by possessing, for example, unauthorised military ammunition.
The police have also suspected the individual driving the FDF car of aggravated drink-driving, aggravated endangering of traffic safety and negligent homicide.
The FDF has not commented further on the case, but the responsibility for information has been transferred to the police.
The suspect of the offences had not yet been questioned as of midday Sunday.
"We will question them, when we question them," Juvonen said.
Edited for clarity on 11 March 2024.