Veli Saunamäki

Veli Saunamäki

Syntymäaika: 25.7.1937

Kuolinaika: 19.5.1991

Location / Place: Kannus

Rank: Senior Constable

Police unit: National Traffic Police Kokkola

Lähteitä: Poliisimies 6/1991; Helsingin Sanomat 20.5.1991: Juopunut ajoi poliisin päälle Kannuksessa

Tapahtumien kuvaus: Senior Constable Veli Saunamäki was on a traffic monitoring assignment together with Senior Constable Juhani Märsylä and Junior Constable Päiviö Ruokala. They were near the town centre of Kannus on Road 775 towards Toholampi and Viitasaari. Märsylä was sitting in the police car writing a ticket to a driver whom they had just stopped. Ruokala announced that the next vehicle to be stopped was approaching. Saunamäki, who was wearing police coveralls with reflective bands, stepped out of the patrol car. Carrying a stop light and a handheld radio, he stood waiting for the car. The temperature was just below zero centigrade, but the road surface was dry and the road illuminated. Saunamäki was standing behind the stopped car and the police car. At 2:08 am, a car coming from the direction of Kannus ran over Saunamäki, pushing him to the roadside on the left. The driver continued towards Toholampi without stopping. Märsylä, upon hearing the sound of the car hitting Saunamäki, stepped out of the patrol car and found his colleague lying on the ground. Based on eyewitness accounts and pieces of metal found at the scene, it was determined that the hit-and-run car had been a light blue Saab 900.

Tekijä 1: The hit-and-run driver was sentenced to one year in prison and assessed a fine of 1,800 mk.

Memorial plaque: Police University College