The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demands 240 hours community service, a conditional prison sentence, and a 3-year driving ban against a 29-year-old man from Ede. The man is suspected of causing a very serious fatal traffic accident while under the influence of drugs. Additionally, the OM accuses him of fleeing the scene after the collision and leaving the victim helpless. “Instead of celebrating his 78th birthday with a cozy drink, his family members sat by his hospital bed, presumably hoping for a miracle, which sadly did not come.”
On February 5, 2024, things went wrong at the T-junction of Televisieweg in IJsselstein. A pedestrian was crossing the road at that moment and was hit by a delivery van. Witnesses heard a loud crash and saw the driver of the van drive off without stopping. The victim remained severely injured in the cold winter asphalt, fighting for his life. Emergency services rushed him to the hospital, where he died a few days later from his serious injuries.
Under the influence
A few minutes after the collision, police officers found a delivery van near the accident site with broken glass on the right side and windshield. DNA of the victim was later found on the vehicle. A half-smoked joint was found next to the drivers seat.
About thirty minutes after the incident, the suspect contacted the police. He stated that he had just hit a pedestrian and fled in shock. Upon arrival at the police station, he was arrested for fleeing after a serious accident and leaving the victim helpless. A saliva test at the station showed he was under the influence of THC and amphetamines.
“Long-lasting mistake”
According to the OM, the suspect committed several serious traffic violations. The first violation is driving under the influence. The suspect refused to explain this during interrogations. “Despite knowing he was under the influence, the suspect started and continued driving,” said the public prosecutor. “This is not a decision made in a short time, but a long-lasting mistake.” Furthermore, the OM states that the suspect could and should have seen the crossing victim and had enough time to brake or swerve. The OM also accuses him of leaving the accident scene without offering help.
Sentence demand
When determining the sentence demand, the OM takes into account the facts but also the suspects personal circumstances. Therefore, the prosecutor considers a conditional prison sentence appropriate instead of an unconditional one. A substantial community service is also necessary because the suspects traffic violations led to the victims death. All in all, the OM demands 240 hours of community service, a conditional prison sentence of four months, and a driving ban of three years.
The court will give its verdict on December 9.
