Driver on Trial: Suspected of Reckless Driving and Laughing Gas Use in Fatal Accident

In the early morning of May 1 last year, the four young people drove in the outskirts of Oud Gastel. A pleasant evening that ended in a drama. Around four o’clock at night, the car on the Standdaarbuitensedijk flew out of the bend and ended up upside down in a meadow. Roy, 17, died instantly. Two then 16-year-old girls were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Volkswagen Polo, Pieter (23), was also injured. He finds it difficult to talk about the case. “I haven’t had any help yet and it still bothers me every day.” Pieter says he still thinks about his deceased friend every day. He says he has little recollection of the accident.

“I know the steering wheel got heavy, I saw a flash of light and I woke up in a meadow. And I heard a girl crying and the car was upside down.” Later it turned out that Pieter drove 79 kilometers too fast.The maximum speed on the Standdaarbuitensedijk is 60 kilometers per hour, but a police investigation showed that the Bredanaar drove 139 kilometers per hour.

In addition to the suspicion of reckless, inattentive driving, laughing gas was also used that evening. Pieter borrowed a friend’s Volkswagen Polo. “That was a nice, new car.” He picked up Roy and one of the girls in the center of Breda. “Then Roy came up with the idea of ​​getting laughing gas in Etten-Leur.”

The second girl was then picked up in Roosendaal. “Then we did balloons in the parking lot of McDonald’s in Oud Gastel.” He cannot say how many balloons Pieter used that evening. “Seven, eight? I really don’t know.” During the ride, all occupants used laughing gas, according to statements. The tank was passed in the car.

“Laughing gas was still used until the accident,” said the public prosecutor. The car ended up upside down. Upon arrival, the police saw one of the girls injured sitting next to the car. “You, Pieter, were also found outside the car.”

The other girl, like Roy, was still trapped in the car. She said during the hearing: “When I woke up in the car I looked around. I tried to help Roy, tried to wake him up. But he didn’t move anymore…”

Roy still lived at home with his father in Sint-Willebrord. “I’m sure he told the suspect to drive more slowly. He sometimes said that to me when I drove too fast,” said his father. Around three o’clock in the morning, Roy texted him again. “LY” with a heart. “As if Roy felt it coming that less than half an hour later it would be over for good.”

Roy’s mother talks to Pieter through her lawyer. “Because that day you thought it necessary to tear along the road monstrously hard. You took three children in your car. You, Pieter, survived. You took the life of my son, my only child. But your life continues.”

All relatives and victims blame L. for never expressing remorse. “We’re a year on. You never made an attempt to get closer,” says his mother. “No empathy whatsoever. You don’t even cooperate openly and honestly with the investigation. If Roy was your buddy, take all your responsibilities as a buddy.”

The life of the two girls has completely changed. They suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, concentration problems and sleeping problems. In addition, they are still in pain every day as a result of the accident. “Walking or standing for long stretches is not possible,” says one of them.

The 16-year-old girls are afraid for their future. One has stopped her education, the other has switched studies because otherwise she would not be able to find a job due to her mental and physical problems. One of the girls turned to the suspect at the end of her story: “You had the chance to repent and you didn’t. I can’t understand this. It comes across as if you feel more victimized than the others. ” This was followed by applause from the public gallery.

Staring quietly ahead, L. listened to the stories. “This is very emotional to hear,” he said in tears. “I indicated to the police that I wanted to talk to the parents, but that was not recommended.”

Justice demands a prison sentence of two years and six months probation if he goes wrong again. In addition, a four-year driving disqualification is required.