A 51-year-old man responsible for a road accident in which a couple and their young daughter lost their lives in the summer of 2024 has been given a 5-year prison sentence, part of which suspended. He has also been banned from driving for the rest of his life. The man was between 3 and 4 times over the limit when the accident happened. He was driving at 212 km/h and using his mobile phone while driving.
5-year prison sentence and lifetime driving ban for man that killed West Flemish family while driving drunk
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The accident happened on 11 August 2024 on the E403 motorway in Ruddervoorde. The 51-year-old crashed into the back of an Opel Corsa. Such was the intensity of the impact of the crash that the Opel Corsa was completely wreck. Janick (29), Janice (30) and their daughter Maithé (8) stood little chance and all three died at the scene.
The man driving the vehicle that had crashed into them was between 3 and 4 times over the limit for alcohol. He was driving at least 212 km/h per hour and was using his mobile phone while driving. He already had 14 previous convictions for motoring offences.
When sentencing the presiding magistrate said that “He drove in a completely irresponsible manner. His driving style involved taking enormous risks with terrible consequences”.
“The court finds it incomprehensible that, at a time when society is making serious efforts to make our roads safer and everyone is being encouraged to be careful, the defendant took the wheel in such a reckless manner and after drinking so much alcohol.”
In determining the sentence, the magistrate considered not only the man's criminal record, but also the counselling he had undergone and the positive changes that had been noted.
Prison sentence and lifetime driving ban
The man has now been sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment, 4 of which are suspended. While on probation “He will have to comply with the conditions rigorously.” He has also been fined 8,000 euro and banned from driving for life.
The man’s lawyer Walter Van Steenbrugge told VRT News that ‘This is a humane sentence. The court has made a courageous decision and also says that post-sentence reintegration must be taken into account. He is being given a serious opportunity, which he must seize with both hands.”
Mr Van Steenbrugge says that he hopes that one day a meeting can take place with the victims’ family. “I that this can be be done. It will be very confrontational for him, but it send out be a good signal. He wakes up with what he’s done and he goes to sleep with it too”.
Victims’ family says “As far as we are concerned it’s murder”
The victims’ family say that they are disappointed that their loved ones’ deaths are not being treated as murder. “As far as we are concerned this was murder, but the justice system sees things differently”.
According to their solicitor, a lifetime driving ban was particularly important to the family. “That was one of the key issues for the family. It has now been clearly established that he was a danger”.
In court, they came face to face with the man whose reckless driving resulted in their family members’ deaths. “That was particularly painful. Emotionally, we cannot bring closure to what happened. They will never be forgotten, we think about them every day.”