A 36-year-old motorcyclist from Assen was sentenced by the subdistrict court on Tuesday to a fine of 850 euros and a conditional driving ban of two months for causing a serious accident in Hooghalen.
The accident happened on July 14, 2023 on the Laaghalerveld, on a dark and winding road without street lights. The motorcyclist was riding there with his brother when he collided with an oncoming 19-year-old cyclist. He was very seriously injured.
According to research, the motorcyclist did not drive on the right side of the road and ended up on the cyclist’s side of the road. It could not be determined how fast the motorcycle was going. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) emphasized that there were no indications of extremely fast driving or other forms of gross negligence, such as driving under the influence or telephone use.
The consequences for the cyclist were serious. Medical documents show that he suffered skull and brain injuries, as well as multiple bone fractures and lung injuries. During the hearing, his mother said that her son had recently undergone another operation.
The suspect stated that he cannot remember anything about the accident. He also suffered injuries, including a broken hyoid bone and jaw injuries. He called the collision “extremely tragic” and said this “must never happen again.”
The Public Prosecution Service prosecuted the man for dangerous driving. The victim’s family had previously tried to enforce a more serious prosecution, but the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence for this. That is why the case has only now been submitted to the judge.
The subdistrict court judge determined that the motorcyclist drove too far left on a dark, narrow and unclear road. According to him, he caused a hazard on the road, resulting in the collision.
In addition to the fine, the judge imposed a conditional driving ban of two months, with a probationary period of two years. The sentence corresponds to what was demanded by the Public Prosecution Service.