Six dead and seven injured in New Beijerland truck drama

NOS News•today, 09:59•Amended today, 12:35

Six people were killed in last night’s truck drama in Nieuw-Beijerland. Seven people were also injured, one of whom is in critical condition. That’s what the police report.

Most of the fatalities come from Nieuw-Beijerland: two men aged 50 and 62 and two women aged 32 and 75. A 41-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman from neighboring Goudswaard were also killed.

The regional broadcaster Rijnmond reports that it has been announced in the Bethelkerk in Oud-Beijerland that three people who died come from the same family. It would be a mother, a son and a daughter-in-law who was eight months pregnant.

Sports association TOGB from Berkel en Rodenrijs also reports a death. The 62-year-old man was an honorary member, former chairman and football referee at the club.

The driver of the truck is suspected of causing a fatal traffic accident. The 46-year-old Spaniard had not been drinking.

The accident was in the hamlet of Zuidzijde, which belongs to Nieuw-Beijerland, at the T-junction between Zuidzijdsedijk and Langeweg. According to the police, it is clear that the truck was stationary on the dike before the accident. The vehicle then started driving for unknown reasons.

At the bottom of the dike, the truck drove into a barbecue of the local ice club around 6 p.m. There must have been dozens of people there.

The police hope that bystanders have photos or videos of the accident, which can provide clarity about the circumstances. The truck has since been removed from the accident site.

Everyone panicked, everyone tried to help.

A couple who were present at the barbecue also saw that the truck stopped before the T-junction, then started moving and drove off the dike. A drama then unfolded at the bottom of the dike. “It felt like we were in a movie. We saw how people were dragged along,” the couple told Rijnmond.

According to the couple, the bystanders tried to help as many people as possible. “We saw feet under the truck. These images remain on our retinas forever.”

“Everyone was in a panic, everyone tried to help. The emergency services were busy, but there were an awful lot of injured,” Rebecca van Wijgerden, who was present shortly after the accident, told Rijnmond. “Later, the driver got out of his truck, after which he was taken away by the police. Everyone who was there was upset. It is unknown what exactly happened, but people were angry, wanted to know what had happened.”

Rescuers yesterday at the scene of the accident and later in the evening the recovery of the trailer of the truck:

According to local resident Leen van Dijk, the barbecue was on the occasion of the departure of the chairman of the local ice cream club. “I know that there were a hundred registrations. I know most of the people of the association, I have lived here for 58 years and have been on the board myself for years.”

Acting mayor Aptroot of the municipality of Hoeksche Waard, which includes Nieuw-Beijerland, told NOS last night that the drama has a lot of impact on the residents of Nieuw-Beijerland. “It is a very close-knit community here in Nieuw-Beijerland. People want to know how their loved ones or good friends are doing.”

King Willem-Alexander also reacted to the accident. He is “shocked and affected” by the “terrible accident”. Prime Minister Rutte responded https://twitter.com/MinPres/status/1563834259164602369where he expresses his condolences to victims and relatives.

Last night the police made a call via Burgernet, in which the driver of a white van that was standing on the dike in question was asked to come forward. The police see the driver as a witness and have now spoken with this person.

Victim support is available for bystanders. The municipality of Hoeksche Waard also opened an information number this morning for people who have questions about the incident. They can call 0800-6473647 or 140186. For privacy reasons, no information about victims is given here, the municipality writes. https://twitter.com/gemeenteHW/status/1563790967098036224.