Teenage boy Killed in Varkaus hit-and-run

Police in Eastern are looking for the truck driver involved in a suspected hit and run in Varkaus on Thursday evening, reported national broadcaster Yle.

A 15-year-old boy from Varkaus died at the scene when his moped collided with a truck at the intersection of Highway 23 and Relanderinkatu in the town centre before 7 p.m. The boy was a pupil at Waltteri School in Varkaus.

The truck continued west towards the Varkaus ABC station without stopping at the scene. Detective Chief Inspector Markku Kärpänen said eyewitnesses observed that the truck was an empty timber truck with a timber loader and a white cab.

"We are asking timber truck drivers who were driving in Varkaus on Thursday evening at the time of the accident to contact the police. The police are also still requesting observations of the truck," Kärpänen said.

Kärpänen said police have no understanding of whether the collision was intentional or accidental. The investigation is proceeding on the basis of endangering traffic safety and, in this case, also causing death.

"During the preliminary investigation, everything can still change. It may be that the truck driver did not see anything and this is a very unfortunate accident," Kärpänen said.

Police can be contacted by email at [email protected] or by phone at 0295 415 232. Earlier, police asked the public for observations of the truck and for the driver to contact the emergency number 112.

The doors of Varkaus main church remained open on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for quiet reflection. The city and parish youth workers are also providing support, particularly for young people.