The driver of a monster truck that drove into a crowd of spectators, killing three and injuring 28 others, should be jailed for 18 months, according to the Dutch public prosecutor.

Mario D is being tried for the catastrophic crash, which happened at a stunt show in Haaksbergen on September 28, 2014.

It killed a five-year-old boy, a 50-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman, and news agency ANP reports today that the prosecutor argues D was responsible.

‘The parking lot where the stunt was held was too small and he should not have driven in the direction of the audience,’ the prosecutor said. ‘If things had happened differently, this tragedy would not have occurred.’

The prosecution also said that the event organiser, Stichting Sterevenementen, should be given a suspended fine of €25,000.

D and the event organiser are accused of manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm. The prosecutor is also asking that D be banned from stunt work for 10 years.

The 52-year-old driver from Vijfhuizen said yesterday that he took his foot off the monster truck’s accelerator but the throttle stayed open, making it impossible to brake.