Dropped the accident where woman died after being struck by flagpole – Dagbladet.no

Oslo police have finished the investigation after the accident last Christmas Eve when a 49 year old woman was killed when she was hit by a flagpole outside Holmenkollen Chapel.

The case is dismissed because the matter is not a criminal offense.

the flagpole was wooden and was attached to a foundation with two bolts. The flagpole broke in height of the upper fastening bolt. The flagpole has been examined by experts.

– It was proven rot fungi in the quarry area, and surveys showed that the wood on the time of the accident had rot damage in about 90 percent of the cross section. The biggest impact of wind forces occur in the area, and these factors combined led to the break in the flagpole, said Police Attorney Kristin Ingeborg Rusdal.

It is believed that rot damage has occurred in that water has penetrated between the fastening bolt and wood.

the damage was not visible before the flagpole broke and could only have been discovered by moisture measurement and sampling with special tool made by professionals.

– The police will encourage the public who is responsible for wooden flagpoles, to pay special attention to the area around the bolt holes in the pole because this area is particularly vulnerable to water penetration, says Rusdal.

(NTB)