Finland Crash Page
Country Main Page
Bus Crash: 22 Killed
Äänekoski, Finland
More Bus Accidents
This Bus Crash: Pic 1 | Pic 3 | Pic 4
Find Auto Accident Lawyers: Click Here
The Äänekoski bus disaster was a major traffic accident on March 19 2004 outside the Konginkangas housing estate in Äänekoski, Finland. At 02:08 local time (00:08 UTC) a bus transporting 38 passengers, most of them youths, to Ruka skiing centre for an alpine skiing vacation crashed into a tractor trailer carrying heavy paper rolls weighing about 38 tonnes total, 20 km north of Äänekoski. The accident happened on highway 4 E75, and left the bus driver and 22 passengers dead. In addition, 15 passengers were injured. The tractor trailer driver was unharmed. The executive director of the youth travel company also died in the accident. Most of the victims were sleeping and died immediately when they were hit by the paper rolls that ejected into the bus.
The accident happened when the southbound trailer of the truck began a soft swerving movement on black ice which intermittently covered the highway at its sloughs and troughs. The trailer first swerved to the right; to correct this the driver counter-steered the vehicle. This led to a loss of control of both the pulling tractor-truck and its trailer. The trailer continued its movement across the icy pavement on the highway until it locked in a ninety-degree angle with the pulling tractor-truck. The northbound bus had no way of escape as this happened at the moment of passing. Five 780 kg paper rolls were ejected through the side of the trailer into the bus. The front of the bus was demolished on impact, as well as several seat rows.
Simo
Editors Note: See Same Accident Submitted in March
2004 with Two Different Pictures. Thank you to all submitters.
Submit your Own Car Accident Pictures and Story
1. Please use either a jpg or gif format. Tell us your story please include a description, date of the accident and the accident location (City, State, or Country if outside US).
2. You agree to our terms and conditions.
3. Send to
Thank you! Return to Automobile Accident and Injury Pictures Home Page
Find Car Accident Attorneys | Car Accident Statistics | Car Accident Pictures | Legal Rights and Information |
Truck Accidents | Submit Your Case >>
Head and Brain Injury | Auto Accident Reconstruction | Seat Belts save lives | Rules of Conduct at the Auto Accident Scene
Uninsured drivers | Car Accident Cases | Whiplash
Broken Bone Injuries
Herniated Disc Injury Claims
Car Accident Law by State
Massachusetts Accident Lawyer and Boston Lawyers
California Lawyers
New Hampshire Attorneys
Florida Lawyers
New York Lawyers
Connecticut Lawyers
Texas Accident Lawyers
Ohio Accident Attorneys
Illinois Auto Accident Lawyers
Return to Car Accidents Home Page
All contents copyright Car Accidents.com