North Rhine-Westphalia: child killed: parents and country close comparison

Büren (dpa / lnw) - After the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy in Büren (Paderborn district), who was killed by a stone cross, his parents agreed on a settlement with the state road construction company in North Rhine-Westphalia.

North Rhine-Westphalia: child killed: parents and country close comparison

Büren (dpa / lnw) - After the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy in Büren (Paderborn district), who was killed by a stone cross, his parents agreed on a settlement with the state road construction company in North Rhine-Westphalia. This was announced by the parents' lawyer, Andreas Jolmes, and a spokesman for the state company on request. The "Westfalen-Blatt" had previously reported on it.

According to Jolmes, the country pays the parents compensation and reimburses costs incurred in connection with the boy's death, such as money for the funeral. The comparison also regulates that the country assures that it will do everything possible to avoid such a tragic accident in the future. "It was a very urgent need for the parents to spare other parents such a terrible event," he said.

The spokesman for Straßenbau NRW confirmed that a settlement had been reached and that everything would be done to prevent such incidents in the future. "The state company is deeply affected by the tragic accident," he said. The exact content of the comparison is kept secret.

On November 11, 2021, the boy played with a friend on the sandstone memorial cross, which was almost 90 centimeters high, and which stood on a concrete pedestal on an embankment next to a country road. The cross broke from the base and fell on the boy, fatally injuring him. According to an expert opinion, the dowelling of the cross to the substructure had not been carried out professionally.

In the matter there had also been criminal investigations against an employee of Strassenbau NRW. Attorney Jolmes emphasized: "The parents have stated that they have no interest in prosecution because they will not get their child back."