On Tuesday, 14-year-old Johnathan was commemorated at the Mondriaan College in Oss. Pupils could talk to each other and teachers and write letters, victim support was also present. The boy died Sunday night. The car he and his family were in was hit in Oss by a car that ran a red light at high speed.
“He was my best friend. I’ve known him for almost four years. I was told by school and a friend that the boy who died in the accident was Johnathan,” says Amir Assbai at the improvised memorial site where there are flowers and candles are lit. “It is very intense, I had a really hard time after I heard it. We just laid flowers. He was also commemorated at school.”
Amir is happy about that. “It is nice that he is being talked about, also on the news. That way he is not forgotten. At school we could write letters. The school director also thought about what it is like when such bad things happen at such a young age.”
Johnathan was in third grade. His brother Jaydon (12) was also in the car, he was seriously injured. “We have to wait and see how he and his family are doing. I hope all occupants make it,” said Amir. A third child (8) from the family was also seriously injured in the collision.
Ran through a red light
The accident happened on Christmas Day at the intersection of the Megensebaan and the Singel 1940-1945. Surveillance footage of the accident is circulating online. It shows how a car with two 18-year-old men in it drives through a red light at very high speed. In doing so, they hit the family’s car.
The men have been arrested. They were slightly injured. Both had too much alcohol, according to a breath test. A blood test has been taken, which should show how much alcohol is involved. That result is not yet known. The co-driver has since been released and is no longer seen as a suspect.
Omroep Brabant consciously chooses not to show the surveillance images of the accident, because of the impact of the accident. The police say they also have the images in their possession and are taking them into the investigation.