On the morning of November 4, 2024, a broken down car was stationary in the right lane on the A28 highway near Assen. A few minutes later, a 40-year-old woman from Haren drove behind her at high speed. The driver of the stationary car, a 44-year-old man, was killed.
More than a year and a half later, the case was before the court in Assen. There it was not only about how the accident could happen, but also about an exceptional response from the relatives.
According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), it has been established that the woman was distracted by her mobile phone just before the collision. Technical research shows that her device was unlocked shortly before the accident and that various apps were opened. She is also said to have visited a website and opened her email. Actions were recorded on the phone for approximately 25 seconds.
In the meantime, the woman drove at approximately 105 kilometers per hour on the A28 towards Hoogeveen. Investigation shows that she did not brake, did not swerve and did not adjust her speed, while other road users did notice the stationary car and drove around it. Emergency lights were also visible.
The woman says she remembers little of the events just before the collision. “I understand that the Facebook app has been activated on my phone,” she stated in court. ‘But I can’t imagine that. I never use that app.”
The suspect told how she experienced the collision. “A bang. I ended up in a dark tunnel. There was a lot of smoke. I thought the car was on fire. I wanted to get out, but I couldn’t. I thought: if I don’t think calmly, I will die.” She eventually managed to get out of her vehicle and was later taken to hospital.
The deceased man left behind a family with three children. According to his son, he was not only a devoted father, but also an important pillar within the Eritrean community. “He helped people to integrate. He was involved in everything and everyone,” the son told the court. According to the Public Prosecution Service, his death left a big hole in the lives of his relatives.
What made the hearing special was the attitude of the family towards the suspect. Where anger and reproaches are often heard in similar cases, the son spoke about understanding and forgiveness. “We were raised Christian,” he said. “We realize that she did not want this. We wanted to tell her that we forgive her for this.”