“I want to let everyone know that the death of my son Jeroen was so unnecessary,” says Jos Leuwerink. His 28-year-old son was working as a cop when he was killed by a motorist. On Tuesday, the court in Den Bosch gave this driver a considerably higher sentence than the court previously did.
The Helmonder was texting with his friends seconds before the fatal collision, while Jeroen wanted to get a hit badger from the N270 near Nuenen. The court sentenced the driver to 16 months in prison and 8 months probation if he commits another error. In addition, he may not drive a car or other motorized vehicles for the next three years.
“Two to three years in prison feels fair.”
Although this sentence is considerably higher than the two months previously imposed by the court, it does not feel like satisfaction to the relatives.
“Two to three years in prison feels fair,” says father Jos Leuwerink. He sees the earlier court ruling as a miscarriage of justice. “That is also apparent when you see the difference in punishment with the court.”
Still, the father of the dead agent is also relieved. “It’s done now. The past two years have been intense with those lawsuits. Constant tension. Shall I use my right to speak and if so: what am I going to say? And then wait helplessly for the verdict of the judge. is ready now and that gives peace.”
“If he had stayed off his mobile, Jeroen would still be alive.”
What remains is the realization that the accident has been so pointless. “I hope that with my story I can make others aware that you should not touch your mobile phone while driving. If that driver from Helmond had done that, Jeroen would have still been alive.”
The court also blamed the driver for texting with friends until seconds before the accident. “This falls under reckless driving. This should be punished with a long prison sentence,” it said during the ruling.
The court also blamed the motorist for denying for a long time that he was busy with his mobile while driving. “During the appeal, there was genuine regret and recognition for his dangerous driving,” said the judge.
Father Jos does not believe that regret was not sincere, but tactical. “He only expressed regret when denying it no longer made sense. If he had said immediately that he had been stupid, I could have lived better with the 16 months he is now going to prison.”
“I look Jeroen in the eye every day while brushing my teeth.”
Despite all the hectic pace of the past two years, life goes on for Jos and his family. “We’re doing pretty well given the circumstances. I’m proud of how we’re fighting our way out of this.”
His other son writes many poems about the loss of his brother. “My daughter gave birth to two little ones and I look Jeroen in the eye every morning while brushing my teeth. I got his portrait of him tattooed on my chest. That way he is always with me and we stay connected forever.”
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