The fatal accident in which 17-year-old Roy van Mil from Emmen died yesterday afternoon after a collision with a train, has severely impacted friends, family and his social circle. Assistance could no longer benefit the boy who was working as a pizza delivery boy at the time.
Police spokesman Thijs Damstra speaks of a fatal accident. “The barriers were already down at the time of the accident. Many people witnessed the accident, victim support is available for them.”
After the fatal accident, people soon gathered at the railway crossing on Kerkhoflaan in Emmen, including friends and employees of New York Pizza in Emmen, where the 17-year-old victim worked. They looked to each other for support. Classmates of Van Mil at Drenthe College and clubmates of SJO FC Meerdijk, where he played football, also visited the accident site and laid flowers.
Inus Jeuring, chairman of SJO FC Meerdijk, announces a day after the terrible event that a room has been set up in the canteen of SC Angelslo in memory of their deceased clubmate. “Anyone who wants to can leave a message, but we especially want to give everyone who knew him the opportunity to visit each other and talk about it,” Jeuring explains.
The chairman will also be there tonight when the SC Angelslo canteen opens its doors at 6 p.m. to reflect on the death of the 17-year-old goalkeeper, who could keep well. “He was so talented that we had already talked about letting him move on to the seniors next season,” Jeuring continues. “But we no longer need to talk about the sporting part. It is very sad that Roy is no longer here.”
When Jeuring heard the news yesterday, he immediately tried to get hold of the leadership of the team in which Van Mil played football. When that was done, the news had already spread. “Just after the accident, acquaintances of his had already gathered at the railway crossing and that also goes quickly through social media. Moreover, the guys from the team know each other well, so everyone was quickly aware of what had happened.”
The chairman of SJO FC Meerdijk sympathizes with the relatives and especially the parents. “You can talk about anything now, but it is incomprehensible what goes through you when you lose a child. Our sympathy goes out to them.”
Whether the football association also facilitates in, for example, victim support, tonight’s gathering should show.