Zonhoven On april 7, 2017 collided with a car with three young people on the E314 at the height of Lummen at an angle on a truck. The 18-year-old Djilani from Zonhoven lost his life in the crash, a 19-year-old villager injured. One element is everyone in the magistrates ‘ court agreed: “The car was used as a nightclub and for that purpose a car is not.” The 22-year-old driver from Zonhoven to risk a prison sentence of six months and a driving ban of two years.
Crucial in the case is a video that is two minutes before the accident was made. That is to see how much fun the driver, with cigarette in hand and the occupants in the car had. The trio had been around since 17 hours to enjoy a beautiful spring evening with a barbecue and the necessary entertainment. There were also three bins of beer in the car and there were empty cans and bottles scattered. When young people decided the party to continue in the student city of Leuven, stopped the then twenty-year-old man with drink. He still had too much alcohol in his blood at the time of the blow, but was not drunk. At a speed of about 136 km per hour, he saw too late the truck which is 89 km/h reed. He could just swerve to the left, with a dramatic outcome for the passenger on the right front.
The case did the emotions already high flare up and is very complicated. A third passenger ran after all permanent damage and is incapacitated for the rest of his life. He was wearing his seat belt, which the insurer also expanded the word. The attorney in any case that there is only one person, the full criminal responsibility and that is the driver of the car. “I wondered why your truck will not have seen until I the movie saw. You shows here a lack of mentality, education and awareness. It reminds me of the terrible crash in Zonhoven in which seven young people died because they are not from the wreck were able to escape the conflagration.” The public prosecutor asks that the accused after his punishment again, theoretical, psychological and medical test are required to pass prior to being allowed to drive. Also a sensibiliseringscursus at VIAS is prescribed. The punishment is partly conditional.
From the defense, one speaks of “collective euphoria”, what with the civil parties salt in an open wound. “Everyone in the car was aware of what was happening. It is also highly unusual that there is footage of what happened just before the accident happened,” said the lawyer. “There is no evidence that the occupants, the driver is not notified”, use replication among the civil party.
Untold guilt, meaningless
Master Erik Pence, stressed that his client is “one pint drunk too much” and “not at a crazy speed’ reed. “When you’re filming, leads one also to the driver, but my client remains responsible. He is sitting with a large realization of guilt and let this treat. In the meantime, he was also another victim of senseless violence, which he even in a coma. I ask for the punishment and reprieve speak out. He is in agreement with the measures that you would impose.” The judgment was pronounced on 9 January.
