A 68-year-old man from Assen was sentenced to a fine of 1000 euros for the cause of a fatal accident on November 10, 2023 on the A28 in the neighborhood. Two brothers aged 76 and 78 from Hardenberg and Hoogeveen died in that accident.
The Assenaar drove back home from his work in Nunspeet by midnight. After a driveway near the neighborhood, he collided with the back of the car in which the two brothers and their sister were. The front car started to spin and ended up in the ditch. The youngest brother died on the spot.
The oldest brother and his sister managed to get out of the car. The Assenaar himself called with the emergency services. He reported that he had hit something, but had no idea what. The control room asked him if there was a ditch and if something was in it. The man later saw a car in the ditch with four wheels up. A young couple from another car already came to the rescue.
According to the public prosecutor, the brothers and sister must have endured great fears when they ended up in the ditch water. The woman was able to open the door, her brother kicked the windshield to free the driver. That didn’t work anymore. His brother drowned. Both had no idea what had happened. They had suddenly felt a blow and went spinning, they said later.
The Assenaar and the 78-year-old victim were taken to the hospital. The Assenaar was able to go home again after investigation. The Hoogevener had ditch water in his lungs. He was kept asleep, but died twelve days later.
The police investigation showed that the Assenaar drove 130 kilometers per hour, which was allowed at that time. The car for him drove at 100 kilometers per hour. No defects were found with both cars. The conclusion from the study is that there are no reasons for the Assenaar that he could not have seen the other car. The public prosecutor demanded a fine of 1000 euros and a conditional driving cancellation of two months.
“This case only has losers, but the mistake lies with you,” the judge said. She took into account that the Assenaar has not been in contact with justice before. Only a fine is sufficient for this violation, she thinks.