Father and son face jail after fatal crash, deny they were in a road race
A father and son who took part in an impromptu road race through a Dutch village which left a 19-year-old woman dead should be jailed for five and three years respectively, the public prosecution department said on Friday.
The 54-year-old man, named as Walter van W. drove his Porsche at speeds of up to 160 kph along a narrow dyke road in what appeared to be a race with his son Caspar, who was driving a Mini Cooper, the court was told.
An investigation by the Netherlands Forensic Institute showed the two had driven of speeds of at least 167 kph in area where 50 kph is the maximum. ‘They drove absurdly fast,’ the public prosecution told the court.
Van W’s car smashed into the car driven by the young woman as she turned out of a driveway onto the road in Loosdrecht. She died of her injuries in hospital two weeks after the crash took place.
Walter van W was also found to have twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The two had been out to dinner together earlier in the evening.
Liars
The two men deny taking part in a road race or driving so fast through a built-up area, but did admit to breaking the speed limit. During the hearing they accused witnesses who had seen the cars bumper to bumper driving very fast through the narrow street as lying.
Son Caspar, a pilot for Transavia according to the Telegraaf, told the court he could lose his job if convicted, Nu.nl reported.
The case continues.
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