A 20-year-old man from Dwingeloo has been sentenced to two years in juvenile detention, one year of which is conditional, for causing a fatal accident near Havelte. He was also given a three-year driving ban.
In the early morning of April 17 last year, the man drove a car that left the road and crashed into a tree. With him were two friends and two girls. A 16-year-old girl from Koekange and a 21-year-old man from Dwingeloo did not survive the blow. Three occupants, including the driver, were seriously injured.
During the accident, the Dwingelder had six to ten times more alcohol in his blood than is allowed for a novice driver. In addition, the driver drove about 105 kilometers per hour, where a maximum speed of 60 applied.
He drove in a car unknown to him, at night and had insufficient driving experience. According to the judge, this reckless driving could have caused the man to make a steering error and lose control of the car.
Two weeks ago, the OM demanded a year and a half in prison and a three-year driving ban. The boy from Dwingeloo was 19 years old at the time of the accident. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the man has been practicing a profession for several years and has a reasonably mature existence. The probation service recommended applying juvenile criminal law. In that case, the emphasis is on the pedagogical approach and learning punishments. The Public Prosecution Service was not in favor of this.
The judge thinks otherwise. He sees sufficient reason in the personal development of the man to follow juvenile criminal law. Although the judge assumes reckless driving, the most serious form of guilt in serious traffic accidents, the sentence imposed is different because the judge applies juvenile criminal law.
“You are in a developmental phase where pedagogical influence is still possible,” the judge said to the twenties. He appeared with his father to hear his sentence. His lawyer was not there. The public gallery behind him was once again filled to capacity. Quiet and tense, everyone listened to the judge’s verdict.
The accident caused deep and irreparable suffering to the next of kin, the judge said. The accident had a major impact on the living environment of the driver and passengers. The judge took it seriously that the man has been caught driving under the influence more often by the police. He also did not use the seat belt and accepted that two people were sitting on the co-driver’s seat.
“He was not the only one in his area who was frivolous with the traffic rules,” said the judge. That doesn’t exonerate the man, but it does put everything in context, she said.
Both the 20-year-old man from Dwingeloo and the Public Prosecution Service can appeal. They have two weeks to make this decision.