Public Prosecution Service identifies three dead in The Hague crash after police pursuit

The Public Prosecution Service has officially identified the three people who died early Thursday in a fiery crash on Bezuidenhoutseweg in The Hague following a brief police pursuit. The victims are a 21-year-old woman, a 20-year-old woman, and a 24-year-old man, all from The Hague. A fourth passenger, a 21-year-old woman, was hospitalized with injuries.

Sources close to the women told RTL that they likely did not know the driver before getting into his car. The women had reportedly joined the driver after celebrating one of their birthdays. “Everyone is completely in shock,” said a friend. “Three friends in the prime of their lives… They were very loved. We have no words for this.”

The crash occurred around 4:40 a.m. after police tried to stop the vehicle due to unusual driving behavior. The driver ignored the stop signal and fled, prompting a short chase. The car lost control on Bezuidenhoutseweg, collided with a tree, and caught fire. Emergency responders removed the surviving woman and transported her to a hospital.

Flowers were placed at the crash site on Friday. The Rijksrecherche, an independent agency that investigates police conduct under the supervision of the Public Prosecution Service, is examining whether police acted appropriately. Officers and witnesses are being interviewed, and surveillance footage is being reviewed.

“The Rijksrecherche is conducting a full investigation into the circumstances, including whether the police acted lawfully,” the Public Prosecution Service said in a statement.