Three hurt as sound system collapses during Winterswijk liberation commemoration
A reenactment of Winterswijk’s liberation turned into chaos on Sunday when a military vehicle struck an overhead cable, causing a large speaker system to crash onto the crowd. Three people were seriously injured during the event marking 80 years since the town’s liberation, according to de Gelderlander. The three injured individuals were reportedly women participating in the theatrical reenactment of the town’s liberation.
Thousands of people had gathered in Winterswijk’s center for the “80 Jaar Vrijheid” event, a large-scale commemoration featuring historical reenactments with military vehicles, actors, and ceremonies honoring fallen Allied soldiers. The incident occurred just after noon, when a moving column of historical military vehicles reached the Markt, De Telegraaf reported. According to police, a military vehicle on a low-loader hit a cable that was connected to a structure supporting sound and lighting equipment. The impact caused the structure to collapse, striking bystanders.
Emergency services responded quickly, dispatching multiple ambulances and a trauma helicopter to provide medical assistance. The injured individuals were taken to the hospital, though officials have not specified the severity of their injuries.
Mayor Joris Bengevoord, who was present at the event, confirmed to de Gelderlander that the victims were not in life-threatening condition. He expressed gratitude to bystanders who immediately provided first aid. “I am thankful to everyone who stepped in to help,” Bengevoord said.
Following the accident, authorities cordoned off the area as investigators examined how the incident occurred. Images from the scene showed the damaged vehicle and the fallen sound system, while police gathered witness statements.
Despite the disruption, the reenactment had been intended as the highlight of the weekend’s celebrations. The event had started on Saturday with a youth-focused liberation festival at a cultural center, leading up to Sunday’s large-scale commemoration.
