“Deep investigation” promised into truck drama with six deaths in the Netherlands | Abroad

The Spanish driver of the truck is being medically examined. His blood was taken to see if he was taking any medication. It is also checked whether he had not telephoned or was distracted in any other way at the time of the accident.

That said Chief Public Prosecutor Hugo Hillenaar, deputy district chief Kini Homan of the Zuid-Holland Zuid police and acting mayor Charlie Aptroot at a press conference in Hoeksche Waard town hall on Sunday evening. They didn’t want to prejudge any conclusions about the cause.

According to Aptroot, the drama has plunged the Hoeksche Waard “into deep mourning”. “Six of our residents were literally ripped from their lives. One of them was heavily pregnant,” said Aptroot.

The investigation will investigate why the 46-year-old driver, who has been taken into custody, ended up there on the Zuidzijdsedijk in Nieuw-Beijerland with his empty truck, which is being technically examined. “The bottom stone will come up here”, Hillenaar promised.

For example, questions must be answered as to whether the driver was perhaps lost due to a road closure or confusion surrounding his navigation, because Nieuw-Beijerland, Zuid-Beijerland and Oud-Beijerland are close to each other.

It is expected on Monday whether the truck driver, who is suspected of causing the fatal accident in Nieuw-Beijerland, will be brought before the examining magistrate. This is a judge who supervises the progress and legitimacy of the criminal investigation. The investigation itself is led by the public prosecutor, a position comparable to that of the public prosecutor in our country.

Aptroot said he attended the press conference at a closed meeting with those affected. “What they have seen and experienced cannot be described in words,” he said. He also reported that the close-knit community sought and found a lot of support from each other. Aptroot reported that he received a message of support from Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Saturday evening and said that the compassion of the Queen and Queen is also highly appreciated. According to him, Monday will be discussed with three local representatives how a possible commemoration of the victims can be given shape.

At the press conference, Aptroot called on the media to be aware of the great sadness in the small community Zuidzijde, where the drama took place during a neighborhood barbecue. “Keep the residents in mind. They find it very unpleasant that they are being filmed and questioned.” He did thank the media that requests not to pay attention to the residents’ meeting were respected.

According to district chief Homan, a family agent has been assigned to those affected and further victim assistance has been arranged, also for aid workers. In addition, according to the police and the Public Prosecution Service, many witnesses still need to be heard.