Dutch police said on Sunday that six people were killed and seven others injured when a truck with Spanish license plates drove over a group of people attending a barbecue near Rotterdam.
The accident occurred yesterday at around 6 pm local time in the village of Nieuw-Beijerland, 30 km from Rotterdam, when the truck went off the road. According to local media reports, the vehicle crashed into a group of people at a skating club’s barbecue.
“Six people were killed and seven injured in the accident that occurred yesterday,” police spokesman Mirjam Boers said. “We’re investigating exactly what happened,” he added.
According to police, the victims were three women aged 28, 32 and 75, and three men aged 41, 50 and 62. One of the injured was taken to hospital in serious condition.
The truck is owned by Spain-based company El Mosca. A police spokesperson said the driver was detained and “not under the influence of alcohol”.
One of the victims was pregnant,” said Mayor Charlie Aptroot, adding that children were among the injured.
King William Alexander and Queen Maxima expressed their sadness at the tragedy. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also expressed his condolences.
An eyewitness told by local television said the truck stopped at an intersection before heading towards the group. According to the network, three of the victims – a mother, son and pregnant daughter-in-law – belonged to the same family.
The incident caused an uproar in the Nieuw-Beijerland community. “When we got here, the situation was really terrible. There were a lot of police, ambulances, fire trucks, everyone was here,” 20-year-old Bob van den Burg, who visited the scene of the accident yesterday, told AFP. “Everyone is affected and mourns the deaths of people here where nothing happened. Hardly any robberies or anything terrible.”
source: Noticias
