Skip to content
Magazine
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

Turnhout Court’s Judgment: Driving Ban, No Prison Sentence

Sarhan Basem by Sarhan Basem
17 May 2024
in Belgium News
Turnhout Court's Judgment Driving Ban, No Prison Sentence

credit: tribune.

Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The police judge in Turnhout charged a driving ban but no prison sentence on a 24-year-old driver from Arendonk who drove a red light on the ring road in Geel at the end of 2022 and killed two people in their sixties in their car. 

An individual FS (24) from Arendonk is guilty before the police court in Turnhout of the unexpected killing of a couple aged 68 and 67 and injuring their 43-year-old daughter.

How Did the Fatal Collision Occur in Geel?

The fatal collision occurred on December 26, 2022, at the intersection where the Geelse Ringlaan R14 turns into the N19g, the express road to Kasterlee. A small passenger car wanted to turn left at the junction in the direction of Mol at 3:40 p.m. The car was struck by a van with FS at the wheel. She wanted to drive directly from the direction of Mol onto the N19g towards Kasterlee but missed the red traffic light and hit the car in the side. No help could help the couple in their sixties, on their way to a Christmas party.

Driver FS, who suffered minor injuries, declared she had become unwell and had no memory of the accident. She lowered her speed from more than 100 kilometres per hour to approximately 72 kilometres per hour. And just before that she reached 143 kilometers per hour on the E313.

A month ago, the Public Prosecution Service requested for S. to be sentenced to six months in prison and a driving ban of six months. For the lawyer of the young, pregnant woman, a prison sentence does not apply and an acquittal was appropriate. “The harshest punishment is that two people died because of her and she has to live with that. A prison sentence is a step too far,” said Bart Vosters. “It was an accident in the purest sense of the word.”

What Penalties Did the Turnhout Court Impose?”

The police judge uncovered that the woman was indeed responsible for the fatal accident, but a prison sentence was not a possibility for him. He sentenced her to a three-month driving ban, two months of which were discontinued. After the driving ban ends, she must retake her theoretical and practical exams and undergo medical and psychological tests. The driver still has to settle a fine of 4,000 euros, of which 3,200 euros is postponed.

“Given the speed determinations by the track and trace system in the defendant’s vehicle, it cannot be said that she was an impeccable and always careful driver until before the accident,” the police judge in Turnhout ruled. “But a prison sentence, even if suspended, has no added value. The court considers the clean criminal record of the defendant, who will soon give birth, as a mitigating circumstance.”

The court further discovered that there was no real proof of a physical breakdown just before the accident in question. “Hopefully the defendant understands that her mere assertion of a physical breakdown, without any support from a medical document, is not reasonable,” the judge found. “It is not credible that she could have driven the two-kilometre road to the scene of the accident, including a bend in that stretch, without being aware of it at the time.”

Related News:

  • Leading MEPs strongly protest unjust prison sentence against Alexei Navalny
  • EU, Poland at odds over independence of courts
  • Europeans closer to EU courts to claim environmental justice
  • The trade union also appeals against judgment on the status of Deliveroo couriers
Next Post
Journalism - production and distribution of reports that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree, word cloud concept background

Journalism award will champion “truth and justice”

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT