2023-05-23 15:08:09
It is a heartbroken woman who appeared at the Bruges police court on Tuesday morning. She had to answer for her actions following causing a fatal road accident last year in Ichtegem, West Flanders. Facing the judge, the sexagenarian might not hold back her tears, as noted by an HLN journalist present in court.
The dramatic accident occurred at a crossroads in the municipality of Ichtegem, a few kilometers from Ostend, on June 26, 2022 around 10 a.m.
That morning, NV, a 60-year-old woman from the region, entered the intersection where she did not have priority. After stopping in front of the white line, the driver moved forward to turn left. A motorcyclist then violently rammed his car. The victim, Martin Debrabandere, a 67-year-old man, did not survive.
“Parked vehicles obstructed his view,” the prosecutor told the court. “She moved forward, but the motorcyclist arrived. The latter braked suddenly and crashed into the car”.
The motorcyclist was driving above the authorized speed
According to the traffic expert, he was driving at 63 km/h, while the speed was limited to 50. But he was driving on a priority road. “This speed was not excessive,” said the prosecutor. “If the motorist had been careful, she should have noticed.”
The driver’s lawyer admitted that his client should have given way. He nevertheless pointed out that she had driven carefully. “It’s the kind of accident that can happen to anyone,” he explained at the start of the argument. “She did almost nothing wrong, but he had priority. She spoke with relatives of the victim. It is a trauma for her to have a death on her conscience when she might hardly do anything regarding it,” added her lawyer.
“It’s awful”
When speaking, the sexagenarian, who might not hold back her tears, had all the trouble in the world to express herself in front of the judge. “I was going to see my son, but I was in no rush,” she said. “I mightn’t stay on that white line indefinitely, so I moved very slowly. I was very, very careful but I didn’t see it happen. It’s terrible”, she concluded, not without emotion.
The verdict will be delivered on June 27.
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