Driver in fatal alcohol-related crash sentenced to 1.5 years in juvenile detention

22-year-old Tygo van D. was sentenced to one and a half years of juvenile detention on Friday, six months of which were suspended, for causing a car accident in which a 22-year-old woman from Gouda died. Van D. had been driving far too fast and had been drinking. He lost control of the steering wheel on the N207 near Gouderak, and the car ended up in the ditch. The front passenger was seriously injured, and the woman in the back seat died.

Van D. went to a Gouderak community center at night in January, where he met up with the girl from Gouda. He had a few drinks there and promised to take the girl and her friend home. Initially, he told her he hadn't had anything to drink, but in the car, he said he was drunk. He had a few drinks there and promised to take the girl and her friend home. Initially, he told her he hadn't had anything to drink, but in the car, he said he was drunk.

Van D., who had already been convicted of speeding and drunk driving, was driving far too fast that evening. He was driving at least 130 kilometers per hour, although the speed limit was 80 kilometers per hour. The women asked him to slow down and to drive more carefully. A video on Snapchat showed one of the victims saying it was scary for her. Van D. replied that he wanted to scare her.

Shortly after, the 22-year-old lost control of the vehicle on the N207 near Gouderak around 3:20 a.m. and ended up in the ditch. Fire fighters had to remove the victims from the vehicle, but also struggled to reach them, according to Omroep West. Firefighters had to use a metal ladder as a bridge between a hedge and the car on its side in the water. The emergency response included a trauma team sent by helicopter.

Experts had advised using the juvenile justice system because Van D. cannot properly assess the risks of his actions and acts rashly. "He has poor planning and organizational skills and appears younger than his chronological age," the experts said. Despite the expert opinion, the Public Prosecution Service demanded 44 months in prison and a four-year driving ban. However, the court in The Hague followed the experts "and opted for an educational approach within the framework of the juvenile justice system." In addition to the juvenile detention, Van D. received a five-year driving ban.

At the hearing of his case, Van D. had told the court that he very much regretted his behavior, most of which he could not remember. The twin sister of the deceased victim called Van D. a murderer. "My sister trusted you to bring her home safely," she said.