On November 28, 2020, a 53-year-old man from Emmen caused a serious accident on the N381 near Westerbork by driving into stationary traffic. The minor chain collision left one woman seriously injured and another woman sustained injuries to her knee.
The man caused that accident by significantly inattentive driving, the judge ruled today. She imposed a 100-hour community service order and a six-month driving ban on the man. The punishment is equal to the requirement of the Public Prosecution Service (OM).
The Emmenaar tried to call his wife shortly before the accident. He was more focused on the phone than on the road, the judge said. As a result, he saw the warning signs too late, announcing the road works and urging traffic to moderate speed. The Emmen did not do that.
The impact left a woman with a shattered jaw and bleeding in her head. The woman, unlike the Emmenaar, appeared in court two weeks ago and told the judge that she had not yet recovered. It was remarkable that the suspect did not appear. His case was due to be heard in January, but the man then asked for an extension due to a booked holiday. The judge blamed him for not appearing in the end. “He doesn’t seem to take responsibility for his actions,” the judge said.