Two children and a woman died after a traffic accident on Sunday evening.
The woman was found together with a man, but that took two hours after emergency services left the scene before the children were found.
The municipality will now investigate the actions of the emergency services.
– How could we have missed the children? says Malin Bergkvist, communications strategist at Kristianstad municipality.
A woman and two children died after a road accident on the E22 on Sunday evening. The passenger car had overturned and landed on either the side or the roof and started to burn. At the scene, the woman was found with life-threatening burns and died in hospital on Monday morning. A man who was also in the car was contactable but shocked. He is still being treated in hospital with serious injuries.
Two hours after the rescue service and ambulance left the scene, the tow truck arrived and it was then that the two children were found – one inside the car and one outside. The emergency services were then called back to the scene.
Will look at the action
In all fatal accidents, the police investigate what happened, and since the accident happened on a European road, an investigation will also be carried out by the Swedish Transport Administration. But Sunday evening’s accident will also be investigated by Kristianstad municipality because the rescue service is organized under the municipality, which usually differs from municipality to municipality.
– It is a different accident in terms of the aftermath, so we will also look at that. What did we do right and what did we do wrong? says Malin Bergkvist, communications strategist at Kristianstad municipality.
She goes on to say that they usually evaluate all accidents, but now they want to look extra into this because “things happened that might not normally happen”.
– How did it happen? How could we have missed the children? We have to look at that calmly and we have to let it take time, says Malin Bergkvist, who cannot answer the question of how long they think the investigation will take.
– But as with all rescue missions, those who were on duty have discussions afterwards. You always have that.
Offers crisis support
In addition to starting the investigation, the municipality also plans to activate crisis support in the form of a physical place where anyone can go to talk about the incident.
– There you can meet and talk to people who are used to meeting people in crisis. Our plan is to open tomorrow, Wednesday, but we have not decided the time and place yet, says Malin Bergkvist.
How would you describe the reaction to this event?
– Everyone is shocked and affected by what has happened. I must say that everyone is.