Teen could face 3 years in prison for toddler's death in hit-and-run

On Friday the Public Prosecutor demanded three years in prison, one of which conditionally suspended, against 18-year-old Elias A. for killing a toddler in a hit-and-run accident in Breda on King's Day. The Prosecutor also wants the teen's driver's license suspended for eight years and that he be treated in a clinic, NU.nl reports.

The Public Prossecutor considers A. completely accountable for the little boy's death. He was initially prosecuted for manslaughter, but as there was not enough evidence to prove this he is now facing death by negligence charges. According to the Prosecutor, there is more than enough evidence to find A. guilty of this charge.

"It is shocking that he immediately realized he hit a child, loocked over his shoulder and still continued driving", the prosecutor said in court on Friday. Even the fact that he turned himself in was "ruthless and calculating", according to the prosecutor. "He only turned himself in when things got too hot."

According to an investigation, A. drove at 80 km/h in a 30 km/h street on April 27th when he hit the 3-year-old boy. He did not brake. The boy was dragged dozens of meters by the car. He died at the scene on Veurnestraat.

Investigation also revealed that A. had no alcohol and a "negligble amount of THC" in his system at the time of the accident. He had drugs in his car, but he claims that he only got high after the accident.

A. is still in custody. The court will rule on November 3rd.