Suspect convicted of driving 225 km/h in 90 km/h zone in crash, killing teen
A 32-year-old man from Tolkamer was sentenced Monday to four years in prison, including one year conditional, for causing the death of an 18-year-old driver on the A12 near Ede. The fatal crash occurred on November 8, 2023.
Investigations showed the Tolkamer man was driving at least 225 kilometers per hour in a zone with a temporary speed limit of 90 kilometers per hour due to roadworks. At the time of the accident, the man was straddling two lanes, with both left wheels in the second lane and both right wheels in the third lane. He collided with the vehicle driven by the 18-year-old from Nieuwegein, who was driving in the third lane.
A blood test revealed the 32-year-old had nearly three times the legal alcohol limit in his system at the time of the crash.
In an earlier court session, the defendant gave an emotional statement, Omroep Gelderland reported. He explained that he panicked and got into his car that night after receiving calls threatening his family. "I wanted to get to my family quickly to protect them," he said. "The biggest mistake of my life. I should never have driven."
"I should have died that night, not him. He didn't deserve this and had his whole life ahead of him." He added that close friends abandoned him and that his ex-partner is demanding he not see their four-year-old son.
The court found insufficient evidence to convict the man of intentional manslaughter and acquitted him of that charge. However, the court ruled his reckless driving indicated he accepted the risk of causing a deadly accident.
The conditional one-year sentence carries a probation period of three years. Additionally, the man is banned from driving for five years.
