Father Convicted in Fatal Stångån Car Accident that Claimed Wife and Daughter

A father in Linköping has been convicted of two counts of causing another’s death following a tragic car accident in Stångån during a family outing in August last year. The father temporarily parked the family car at a prohibited spot to unload items like a stroller, but the vehicle unexpectedly rolled backward into the water while the family was inside. He managed to rescue his son, but his wife and daughter remained trapped in the back seat. Despite rescue efforts, the wife died shortly after reaching hospital and their daughter passed away after more than two months of treatment.

The prosecution argued that the father failed to engage the handbrake or put the car in gear, leaving it unsecured and placing the family at risk. The Linköping District Court found the father responsible but ruled that he was not grossly negligent, leading to a conditional sentence rather than a harsher punishment. He was acquitted of endangering his son, as the court concluded there was no deliberate risk-taking involved.

The father described the ruling as a heavy blow. His attorney acknowledged the conviction’s severity but welcomed the acquittal concerning the son. The father has not yet decided whether to appeal the court’s decision.