Three crushed to death and several injured – bus driver released

After a bus driver rammed two bus shelters, killing three people and injuring three others, the Public Prosecution Authority announces that he is being released. According to duty prosecutor Robert Slottenberg, the detention is lifted based on information that emerged during questioning, but the driver is still suspected of, among other things, causing others’ deaths.

Just before 3:30 p.m., as rush hour traffic picked up in Stockholm’s city center, passengers at Tekniska högskolan in Östermalm were subjected to terrifying scenes. An SL double-decker bus, with a Transdev driver behind the wheel and not in service at the time, drove onto the sidewalk at the bus station and crashed into bus shelters with passengers.

Three people lost their lives and three others were injured, one of whom is still being treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

In video clips, the first police officer on the scene can be seen drawing his service weapon on the bus driver, who initially did not open – or could not open – the bus door. When the police later managed to open the door, the driver was escorted out by several police officers.

The police arrested the bus driver at the scene, suspected of causing others’ deaths and causing bodily harm. He was later detained by the prosecutor, but on Saturday, duty prosecutor Robert Slottenberg announced, after police questioning, that there are no longer grounds to keep him deprived of his liberty.

“Based on the information that emerged during the investigation and after the interrogation of the detained man, together with the appointed defender, there are no longer any grounds to keep the man deprived of his liberty. Even though certain investigative measures still remain, I have decided to lift the detention and release the man,” said prosecutor Robert Slottenberg in a press release.

Although the driver has now been released, formal suspicions of three cases of causing others’ deaths and three cases of causing bodily harm remain.

“Since the prosecutor has decided to lift the detention, it is a clear sign that the suspicions have diminished,” said Ann Öberg at the Public Prosecution Authority’s press service to Aftonbladet.

Some investigative measures still remain. The identification work of the deceased in connection with the accident is ongoing but is not yet complete.

Despite the extensive attention, and that several people have died and others have been injured, the police and the prosecutor have not yet held a press conference.

No medical history – no technical fault

According to the police, the driver is still being treated in the hospital, despite stepping out of the bus on Friday without any visible physical injuries. He has been questioned by the police on Saturday. The transport company Transdev has described him as ‘a valued and experienced employee’ during the day.

Furthermore, there is no knowledge or indication that the driver would have had any kind of health problems. According to reports, even his relatives confirmed this to the media on Friday evening.

The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority has been called in, and the double-decker bus will be investigated. According to Expressen, there are currently no signs that the bus would have had any technical problems.