Motorcyclist in Valletta head-on crash charged with injuring girlfriend

Finnish man whose girlfriend was seriously injured in head-on crash conditionally discharged for six months after admitting to causing unintentional injuries to pillion rider.

A Finnish motorcyclist whose girlfriend was seriously injured after crashing head-on into a taxi with his motorcycle on Tuesday, was today conditionally discharged after admitting to unintentionally injuring his girlfriend.

Jyrki Juhani Sinisalo, 46, of Helsinki, also pleaded guilty to damaging the taxi.

The accident occurred on Tuesday night at around 11:15pm in Great Siege Road, Valletta when the accused and his girlfriend – a 33-year-old Danish woman – crashed head-on into an oncoming Mercedes Benz taxi driven by a 50-year-old man from Luqa.

Upon impact, the driver and pillion rider were thrown out from the motorcycle by the impact. The accused was seriously hurt, while his girlfriend was certified to be in a critical condition.

The woman’s condition has since improved and she is no longer in a critical condition.

Standing before the court, Sinisalo – who appeared in court with a broken arm – told the magistrate that he is used to driving on the right in Finland and therefore got confused and took a wrong turn.

Taking this into account, Magistrate Anthony Vella conditionally discharged the Finnish man for six months.

Inspector Daryl Borg prosecuted.