A 55-year-old truck driver from Schijndel has been sentenced to 200 hours of community service for causing a fatal accident in Vught. In October 2021, 17-year-old Jesse was killed. The court blames the driver for knowing the roundabout and should therefore have been extra careful.
In an empty courtroom, the court rules that the 55-year-old driver drove carelessly and inattentively. Like the public prosecutor and the next of kin, the court heavily blames the trucker for knowing the location of the accident. He knew that the roundabout between Esscheweg and Vijverbosweg in Vught is dangerous and unclear.
Matter of seconds
Tuesday afternoon, October 5, 2021, things went wrong on the dangerous roundabout in Vught. When the truck driver got to the roundabout, he stopped in front of two cyclists. That was Jesse and a friend. The victim’s friend drove straight off the roundabout. Jesse turned left himself and stayed in the roundabout, out of sight of the trucker.
After the driver had stopped for the two cyclists, he entered the roundabout. He turned right at about 15 to 20 kilometers per hour. Not realizing that he could meet the cyclists again on the roundabout. He overlooked Jesse. “It was a matter of seconds,” the trucker said during an earlier session.
‘became more careful’
“The situation requires extra attention. The suspect knew that there were cyclists on the roundabout. After all, he had just let them go,” says the presiding judge. But the trucker didn’t act on it.
Nevertheless, the sentence is lower than the Public Prosecution Service (OM) had demanded: 200 hours of community service instead of the highest possible sentence of 240 hours. “The accident also hit the suspect. He has become more careful. The chance of a recurrence is not great.”
Justice also demanded a three-month driving ban, plus nine months probation if he commits another offense. Because Schijndelaar is a driver by profession, the court realizes that the man can no longer perform his work if his driver’s license is taken away. That is why the trucker will only receive a conditional driving ban for one year.
Roundabout adjustments
After Jesse’s death, a new design was made to make the roundabout safer for all traffic. Accidents still happen too often. In September last year, a cyclist was seriously injured when she was hit by a truck. Work has already started.
The tree with memories of Jesse must also disappear. The relatives preferred not to. But they do want everything to be done to prevent new accidents at this intersection. The new roundabout should be completed before April.
READ ALSO: Jesse (17) killed on dangerous roundabout: ‘Trucker knew that place’