“Antisocial and life-threatening,” the prosecutor described the driving behavior of a 35-year-old motorist from Zoetermeer in his indictment. On February 15, 2025, the man ran a red light at high speed and hit a 13-year-old boy on a bicycle. The victim did not survive the impact. The Public Prosecution Service demanded a 42-month prison sentence and a four-year driving ban.
On February 15, 2025, emergency services were alerted after a serious collision on the N206 in Zoeterwoude. At the intersection with Dirk van Santhorstweg, a motorist collided with a crossing cyclist. When the police arrived, they found a severely damaged Volkswagen Polo and, a little further at the bus shelter, a seriously injured boy with his bicycle. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died the same day.
Camera Footage
It soon became clear that the accident was captured on video. Behind the suspect, a motorist with a dashcam was driving. The footage shows the suspect driving between 81 and 86 kilometers per hour on a road where 50 kilometers per hour is allowed. The suspect approached an intersection where the traffic light was red but did not stop. In fact, he pressed the gas pedal harder.
“Why didn’t you just stop?” the prosecutor wonders in his indictment. “It’s a question that has often been asked of the suspect and still hangs in the air.”
7.9 Seconds on Red
During the hearing, the suspect claimed that he did not see the victim and thought the traffic light was green. The prosecutor calls it an unimaginable and incomprehensible story. Witness statements indicate that the suspect was speeding. An investigation into the traffic light data shows that the traffic lights had been red for at least 7.9 seconds. Yet the suspect drove through.
In the view of the Public Prosecution Service, there is reckless driving behavior, as the suspect has seriously violated traffic rules, driving far too fast and running a red light, resulting in the death of the boy.
Repeat Offender
This is not the first time the suspect has been involved in traffic offenses. In addition to repeatedly receiving fines for speeding, he has also previously received a driving ban.
“There are traffic cases where one might say; this could happen to anyone. A brief moment of inattention and the consequences are enormous. But that is absolutely not the case here,” said the prosecutor. “This cannot happen to everyone. This has to do with a complete disrespect for traffic rules and the safety of other road users.”
The suspect also requested suspension, but the court denied this request. The suspect remains in custody until the verdict, which is in two weeks.