Hundreds of people who died in Volendam brought Jim (15) a last greeting this morning. The teenager died when he was hit by a taxi on Heideweg on Saturday night.
A long procession accompanied Jim this morning from his home to St. Mary’s Church, where the funeral service was held. Jim’s friends walked in front of the hearse and saw dozens of people gathered along the route to pay their last respects to Jim.
It was not a quiet journey, but the route was largely covered in silence. Some people say they find the death of their young fellow townsman ‘terrible’. Many attendees experience a mixed feeling, because the World Cup and Sinterklaas are normally cause for celebration.
memorial site
The fatal accident happened Saturday night around 00:30 near Don Bosco college, where Jim was in fourth grade. A memorial has been set up in the school building and this morning, school employees and the students laid a wreath at the school.
Also at football association RKAV remembers Jim’s death. The teenager played goalkeeper in one of the football teams there. The association has canceled all hall and field competitions this weekend and a quiet place has been set up in the cafeteria with a condolence register. The Eredivisie team of RKAV Volendam plays with mourning bands today. There are flowers and stuffed animals at the place where Jim died.
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Research
The investigation into the accident is still ongoing. The taxi driver, a 27-year-old man from Amsterdam, was questioned last weekend and sent home pending any further steps.