Car crashes into Friesland canal; four hurt, two critical

Four people were hospitalized when their car crashed into a canal in the Friesland town of Waskemeer on Sunday evening. Two of them, a 9-year-old boy from Leeuwarden and a 19-year-old woman from Haulerwijk, are in critical condition, the police said in a statement.

A total of six people were in the car when it crashed int the Haulerwijkstervaart on Compagnonsweg. All six were taken to hospital, two were discharged after being checked over.

Bystanders managed to help some of the car's occupants out of the water while emergency services responded.

The 9-year-old boy and 19-year-old woman are still in hospital in critical condition, the police said on Monday. The boy's 40-year-old mother and the young woman's 19-year-old boyfriend from Groningen are also still hospitalized. A 32-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy, both from Drachten, were sent home after being checked over.

The police's Traffic Analysis department is investigating how the accident happen. Investigators call on witnesses to come forward.