Three remain hospitalized after car hits parade crowd in Nunspeet
Three people remained hospitalized Tuesday after a car drove into spectators waiting for a holiday light parade in Nunspeet, as police and local officials provided further details and witnesses described scenes of panic and shock following the crash, De Gelderlander reported.
The incident occurred Monday shortly before 7 p.m. at a roundabout on the Elburgerweg, where families and children were standing along the road awaiting the Elburg Lichtjestour, an annual procession of tractors and trucks decorated with lights. A car struck the crowd, injuring a total of ten people, police said. Three of the victims were seriously injured and rushed to hospital, while the others, including the driver, suffered minor injuries.
The driver, a 56-year-old woman from Nunspeet, was arrested, which police said is standard procedure in cases involving serious traffic accidents. Authorities said there is no indication the crash was deliberate. “For now, there does not appear to be any intent involved,” police said in an earlier statement.
Mayor Céline Blom said the incident was “highly likely a tragic accident,” adding, “There is no sign of intent, and that is something we are very relieved about.”
Emergency services responded on a large scale. At least six ambulances were dispatched, along with three trauma helicopter teams. Two helicopters landed near the scene, while a third was later canceled. The seriously injured victims were taken by ambulance to hospitals, including one in Zwolle.
The car came to a stop in a field beside the road, where part of a fence was knocked down. Dozens of officers carried out forensic work late into the night, examining the roundabout and the field with flashlights as part of an extensive investigation into how the crash occurred.
Witnesses said the impact was sudden and devastating. Levi, a young bystander, said, “I heard screaming and saw the car drive into the people. There was more screaming, and then it suddenly went completely silent. Then I saw them lying there. That really affected me.” Another witness, Jannine from Nunspeet, who was nearby with her 3-year-old daughter, said, “You immediately think of attacks that have happened elsewhere at Christmas markets. It’s a relief to hear there doesn’t seem to be any intent.”
Bystanders rushed to help immediately after the crash, assisting injured people lying along the roadside until emergency crews arrived. Mayor Blom said residents “came running and helped in all kinds of ways.”
A support center for victims and witnesses was set up shortly after the crash at a local community building, Het Venster. Police officers and staff from Victim Support Netherlands were present to speak with residents, including children who witnessed the incident. Several children were given stuffed teddy bears for comfort. “They’ve seen it happen, and that image can stay with you,” Blom said.
Blom visited both the crash site and the support center Monday evening to speak with those affected. “The impact is huge,” she said. “There were families with children waiting for the light tour. Hearing their stories was very oppressive.” She said she plans to visit the injured in hospital Tuesday if they want her to.
The Lichtjestour had departed from Elburg at 6 p.m. and was scheduled to pass through several towns, including Nunspeet. The crash occurred before the procession reached the town, and organizers ended the event early. “Nunspeet, we are not coming due to a serious accident there,” organizers wrote on Facebook.
