On Tuesday, 14-year-old Johnathan was memorialized at Mondriaan College in Oss. Pupils could talk to each other and teachers and write letters, victim support was also present. The boy died on Sunday night. The car he and his family were in was hit in Oss by a car running a red light at high speed.
“He was my best friend. I’ve known him for almost four years. I was told by school and a friend that the boy who died in the crash was Johnathan,” says Amir Assbai at the makeshift memorial where there are flowers and candles are lit . “It’s very intense, I had a really hard time after listening to him. We just laid some flowers. He was also memorialized at school.”
Amir is happy about it. “It’s good that he’s being talked about, even on the news. So he’s not forgotten. At school we could write letters. The school director even thought about what it’s like when such bad things happen at such a young age.”
Johnathan was in the third grade. His brother Jaydon (12) was also in the car and was seriously injured. “We have to wait and see how he and his family are doing. I hope all the occupants make it through,” Amir said. A third child (8) of the family was also seriously injured in the clash.
He went through a red light
The accident occurred on Christmas Day at the junction of the Megensebaan and the Singel 1940-1945. Surveillance footage of the crash is circulating online. It shows how a car with two 18-year-old men in it goes through a red light at very high speed. In doing so, they hit the family’s car.
The men were arrested. They were slightly injured. Both had too much alcohol, according to a breath test. A blood test has been done, which should show how much alcohol is involved. This result is not yet known. The co-pilot has since been released and is no longer considered a suspect.
Omroep Brabant knowingly chooses not to show surveillance images of the incident, due to the impact of the incident. Police say they also have the pictures in their possession and are taking them into the investigation.
