Terrible accident in the Netherlands: In a suburb of Rotterdam, a truck runs off the road and crashes into a barbecue party. Several people lose their lives.
In the Netherlands, a truck crashed into a neighborhood festival, killing several people. The truck fell off a dyke in the evening in the village of Nieuw-Beijerland near Rotterdam and drove into a barbecue, the police said. There have been several deaths. At the time of the accident, numerous people were at the festival. The course of the accident is being investigated.
The broadcaster NOS reported at least three dead and several injured. In order to be able to precisely determine the number of victims, the articulated lorry, which came from a Spanish trucking company, should first be recovered. Ten ambulances and a helicopter were deployed, and several victims were taken to the hospital, the broadcaster reported. The truck driver was not injured and was taken to the police station for questioning.
"You can imagine what a blow that is. During a neighborhood festival, a truck drives into this group of people, the shock is enormous," said a police spokeswoman at the scene of the accident, broadcaster Omroep Rijnmond. The community takes care of the care of the numerous witnesses to the terrible events. A special company was commissioned to salvage the truck, only then could experts salvage the dead.
According to media reports, the barbecue is an annual event. The victims are said to have previously taken a canoe trip. The accident happened near an intersection, as seen in photos and TV footage. The streets run along a dyke, at the foot of which the festival was in progress.
