According to witnesses, the truck driver who drove into a neighborhood barbecue in Nieuw-Beijerland in August 2022 was “apathetic” and “confused.” This was revealed on Tuesday during the first substantive hearing in the case against the Spanish driver.
Seven people died in the incident, including an unborn child. Seven others, including two children, were injured. The 48-year-old Juan C. denies having had an epileptic seizure during the accident. He does suffer from epilepsy and sought medical help for it.
Witnesses found C. in his cabin after the accident. One of them called him “apathetic” and heard snoring and rattling noises. Another witness called him a “confused man.” “I thought he had something: a psychosis or something, or that he had used something.”
Several people stated that they saw C. talking to the driver of a van shortly before the accident. Data from the truck shows that the Spaniard stood still for 24 seconds at an intersection before his truck drove straight off the dike. The 16.5-meter-long vehicle reached a speed of 31 kilometers per hour in seven seconds and traveled 56 meters.
According to the driver of the van, the truck suddenly started driving and C. was waving his arms. “It seemed like he was very irritated, but it could also just be a coincidence or an epileptic seizure,” he stated.
Small amount of cocaine
The suspect had an almost immeasurable amount of cocaine in his blood, which, according to an expert, no longer had any influence on his behavior. There is a link between cocaine use and epileptic seizures. C. had previously had seizures after drug use.
He also allegedly often failed to take his medication, even though he knew that would increase the chance of an epileptic seizure.
C. allegedly made mistakes in traffic more often. In 2021, he was involved in a collision in Denmark. According to Danish justice, he became unwell, but C. denies this. That charge was later dropped. Later that year, French customs found cocaine in his cabin. According to C., the drugs did not belong to him. And in Spain, he was fined twice for driving under the influence of cocaine. “I have never driven under the influence of drugs,” he stated.
The case will continue on Wednesday with statements from the victims. The sentencing demand will follow next week.