The Public Prosecution Service has demanded a 36-month prison sentence, including six months conditional, against a 22-year-old man from Hoofddorp. On the night of August 24-25 this year, he hit a cyclist at high speed while under the influence of alcohol. The victim, a 19-year-old woman from Nieuwkoop, was seriously injured. The man fled the scene with his car.
The accident occurred on Oude Nieuwveenseweg in Nieuwveen. The victim was cycling home with a group of friends when she was hit by the suspect. Her friends, witnesses to the accident, told the police how the suspect approached with high beams and at high speed. They described how the suspect was swerving, grazing a parked car, and then hitting the young woman. After the accident, the suspect drove away, leaving the cyclist seriously injured. The victim was taken to the hospital with multiple fractures. The driver was arrested a day later.
Recklessness
According to the Public Prosecution Service, recklessness is involved in this case. The suspect reportedly drove excessively fast and was under the influence of alcohol. The public prosecutor considers this a case of intent. Additionally, the suspect is heavily charged for fleeing the scene after the accident.
Message
A key purpose of punishment is prevention. The Public Prosecution Service hopes that by punishing offenders, a strong message will be sent to others, potential future offenders, to think twice before driving under the influence of alcohol.
“These are the types of traffic cases that not every driver can experience. These are cases of drivers who carelessly put the lives of fellow road users at risk. Every sensible person knows that disregarding traffic rules is life-threatening; every sensible person knows that alcohol and traffic do not mix,” said the public prosecutor.
Besides imprisonment, the Public Prosecution Service demands a five-year driving ban. The court will give its verdict in two weeks.
