An appeals court has ruled that a foreign traveler who was involved in a fatal car crash in South Iceland on May 16 is barred from leaving the country until July 11. The ban is intended to ensure the man will appear in court when the case will be tried. A local woman was killed in the crash which took place on the Ring Road west of Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The woman was alone in her car, while the three foreign travelers were in the other car.
Read more: Local woman died in collision on Ring Road yesterday in S. Iceland. Three foreign travelers injured
The National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the appeals court based its finding in part on the findings of an investigation which revealed the man was driving on the wrong side of the road when the accident took place. He had previously told Police it was the other car which was driving on the wrong side of the road, that the woman's car was out of control and that there was no way for him to avoid the accident. An investigation of the scene and the two vehicles and their computers shows that this account has no basis in fact.
The appeals court found that there is therefore strong evidence the foreign traveler caused the accident with reckless behavior, driving on the wrong side of the road which caused a head-on collision with the other car, and that he poses a significant flight risk. The court rejected his request to post bail. He will therefore have to remain in Iceland until July 11. According to the man's original travel plan he was to leave on May 19.
An appeals court has ruled that a foreign traveler who was involved in a fatal car crash in South Iceland on May 16 is barred from leaving the country until July 11. The ban is intended to ensure the man will appear in court when the case will be tried. A local woman was killed in the crash which took place on the Ring Road west of Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The woman was alone in her car, while the three foreign travelers were in the other car.
Read more: Local woman died in collision on Ring Road yesterday in S. Iceland. Three foreign travelers injured
The National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the appeals court based its finding in part on the findings of an investigation which revealed the man was driving on the wrong side of the road when the accident took place. He had previously told Police it was the other car which was driving on the wrong side of the road, that the woman's car was out of control and that there was no way for him to avoid the accident. An investigation of the scene and the two vehicles and their computers shows that this account has no basis in fact.
The appeals court found that there is therefore strong evidence the foreign traveler caused the accident with reckless behavior, driving on the wrong side of the road which caused a head-on collision with the other car, and that he poses a significant flight risk. The court rejected his request to post bail. He will therefore have to remain in Iceland until July 11. According to the man's original travel plan he was to leave on May 19.
