14-year-old Hailie died on railway tracks near the Hyttan care home in Vikmanshyttan following a conflict with another resident. Her family believes she was caught in an emotional storm without realizing the danger from the train. Police classify the death as suicide, but relatives view it as a societal failure.
Hailie, 14 years old, was placed at the Hyttan HVB care home in Vikmanshyttan, Dalarna, in April 2025 by Sala municipality. She was then 13 and suffered from autism, ADHD, poor impulse control, and emotional regulation. Uppsala Administrative Court approved compulsory care in June 2025, noting that mother Elina had good parenting abilities but needed help to keep her daughter alive.
Elina, who used low-affect approaches to manage Hailie's dramatic situations, said: 'I did everything for her. She was the great love and joy of my life.' Hailie initially thrived at the home, attending school for a few hours a day and building good relationships with staff and other girls. The court ruling, however, highlighted her violent behavior, multiple escapes since April, and self-harm.
On September 14, 2025, a conflict arose with another resident, after which Hailie left. Grandmother Anna-Carin Lindbom described: 'Hailie went out and then it ended in complete catastrophe.' She died on the tracks 150 meters from the home. The family emphasizes that Hailie did not grasp the train's speed in her distress: 'She couldn't understand how fast a train goes,' said Elina. Anna-Carin added: 'There was no suicidal tendency in her; most of the time she was happy and content.'
Police investigator Jimmy Spolander confirmed: 'It is a suicide.' Novelia CEO Maria Baker, owner of the home, expressed grief: 'We are deeply affected by the tragic event.' Carina Ohlsson, who led a 2023 inquiry, called it 'a failure for the whole society.' The 2024 Ivo report showed deficiencies in two-thirds of HVB homes, with 18 closures. Sala municipality has initiated a Lex Maria investigation.