1/5 The overturned pump (photo: Dave Hendriks/SQ Vision).
A loud bang, smoke and people screaming. Jan, an employee of the Esso gas station Oeiendonk-Oost along the A2 motorway near Liempde, did not know what he heard. A car had driven into his work site at the end of the afternoon on Saturday and caused havoc. “Then I just started cleaning the toilets.”
It was about half past five when Jan briefly left the shopping area of the gas station. To clean up a bit. Jan tells, a few hours later, what happened next: “Suddenly I heard a car drive into the site, a bang and people shouting no, no. I immediately went to have a look and soon realized that the driver of the car apparently had not succeeded in slowing down in time. Why, I don’t know.”
“I called my mom and said it was okay.”
The consequences were enormous, although they could have been even more disastrous. Also for Jan. The car that was going too fast not only rammed another car, but also a diesel pump. “He took it with him, causing diesel to leak. Fortunately I only saw smoke and no one was refueling with it. At first, of course, you are shocked, just like the other people who were in the gas station. Then everyone wants to call 112 at the same time. I then called my mother, because it can happen quickly when an accident like this is reported on the internet. I reassured her and told her everything was fine with me.”
According to Jan, the police, ambulance and fire brigade were quickly on the spot. “I have spoken to agents. Then I went to clean toilets. That had to happen. I had all the time for this at the time, because everything was cordoned off anyway.”
“The worst fear is now over.”
Jan has not considered going home. “Of course I was surprised, but the worst fear is now over.”
According to the pump employee, three people were taken to a hospital by ambulance. They were injured by flying parts of the cars and pump, according to the police. It is not known how serious they are. Both cars suffered significant damage, they were picked up by a salvage company.
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