North Rhine-Westphalia - Teenager appears in court due to deadly crash incident
During the initial proceeding of a negligent homicide and attempted murder case at the Mönchengladbach District Court, the defendant acknowledged his wrongdoing. He expressed remorse, stating, "I often ponder about the affected individuals and their relatives." The 19-year-old was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in November 2023. The incident took place in Hückelhoven, where he allegedly crossed a red light at 70 km/h while under the influence, leading to a collision with a pregnant woman on a pedestrian crossing. The woman succumbed to injuries in the hospital shortly following the accident, and the fetus was also lost.
In his statement, the teenager admitted to consuming alcohol during the day of the occurrence. He added that he couldn't recall the incident and expressed regret to the family of the victims. "I feel embarrassed by my actions," said the defendant.
The female victim's partner, a computer scientist, served as a witness. He recounted that after dinner, they took a leisurely evening walk through town. Due to the darkness, they decided not to take the path through the park. As they approached a crosswalk, approximately 50 meters from their house, the couple waited for the green light. The witness saw the arriving vehicle and swiftly stepped back. However, he looked over his shoulder to his friend, who was a few paces behind him, only to witness her getting hit by the car. His companion was hurled onto the opposite lane. The bystanders rushed to the victim's aid immediately. When the trial commenced, numerous friends and relatives of the deceased woman were present, several weeping throughout the testimonies.
The accused is suspected of escaping the accident scene to hide his drunken driving. A witness trailed the 19-year-old and confronted him. He had been in pre-detention, but subsequently, he was released with specific conditions. If found guilty, the defendant may serve a lengthy prison term. The trial will consist of three additional hearings before reaching a verdict in the Juvenile Court.
