Driver in fatal gas station crash has 5 previous drunk-driving convictions; Dutch victim identified
A drunk Belgian man who killed a Dutch man and injured two others when he crashed his car into a Texaco gas station shop on the E40 highway in Drognen, Belgium, on Monday night, was convicted for driving under the influence five times before, Omroep Brabant reports.
The Dutch man who was killed in the accident, is 67-year-old Gerrit de Heus, according to the broadcaster. He and two colleagues were drinking coffee in the gas station shop after finishing a job in England for company Terracon from Werkendam when the car hit them. The accident left the company in shock. De Heus worked for Terracon for 50 years, his entire adult life.
"They wanted to have a cup of coffee. And then this happens because of a drunken idiot. You can not imagine a worse accident. Winning the lottery is more likely", Terracon director Sikko Doornbos said to the broadcaster.
Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws identifies the perpetrator as 54-year-old businessman Geert W. from Oostende. In addition to the drunk driving conditions, W. was also sentenced to prison for fraud in September 2015. He stole 1.7 million euros from Belgian railways NMBS with false cleaning bills, according to the newspaper.
On Monday night W. was again driving under the influence. According to witnesses, W.'s car was parked at one of the Texaco gas pumps before he suddenly crashed into the gas station shop, hitting the three Dutch men. The condition of De Heus' two colleagues is unknown. After the accident it was reported that they were seriously injured, but in stable condition.
