- Fatal Lawn Accident - Defendant turns himself in
In the event of a suspected speeding crash in Dortmund, the 19-year-old wanted on an arrest warrant surrendered on Monday. According to police, he appeared at the public prosecutor's office with his lawyer. The district court sent him to jail pending trial for reckless driving resulting in death.
According to chief prosecutor Carsten Dombert, the 19-year-old admitted to the judge that he was driving too fast in his car on June 29 and ran a red light.
The car hit an 11-year-old boy who was crossing the street with his sister. The boy suffered life-threatening injuries and died in the hospital. His 15-year-old sister was also thrown onto the sidewalk and suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
After the hit-and-run, the 19-year-old of German-Turkish nationality reportedly went on a multi-week vacation to Turkey, according to his lawyer. It remains unclear whether these statements are true or if the driver was trying to avoid German authorities by staying in Turkey.
There was initial controversy over the arrest warrant after the hit-and-run. The public prosecutor's office initially failed to obtain an arrest warrant, which was rejected by the district court. The 19-year-old was to be held in jail pending trial due to the risk of tampering with evidence, but not because of a flight risk.
Only after the public prosecutor's office appealed to the regional court was a national arrest warrant issued for the man. At that time, the 19-year-old was reportedly already in Turkey. According to his lawyer, he planned to return for a day in August.
Police statement
The police were involved in the investigation of the hit-and-run accident, as the 19-year-old was wanted on an arrest warrant. After surrendering with his lawyer, the court sent him to jail pending trial for reckless driving resulting in death.
