The underage girl from Echt who was behind the wheel in a fatal accident in her hometown in 2018 has been sentenced to 180 hours of community service by the court in Roermond.

She also may not drive a motor vehicle for a year.

Exonerated

Her now 31-year-old brother, who was also in the car, was acquitted by the court. According to the judge, he made it known to his sister over and over again that night that he did not want her to ride in his car. The man, who is mentally challenged, did everything in his power to keep his sister from driving anyway, the court said.

Careless

The judge found that the now 17-year-old driver behaved quite carelessly. She was driving at excessive speeds on a narrow winding road with trees on the shoulder, while it was raining and she was also not old enough to drive a car.

Accident

On that particular March 10, 2018, she lost control of the car on a curve and collided with a tree. A 15-year-old girl from Maasbracht was killed in the crash. She was sitting in the back of the car. A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured. She sustained extensive brain damage from the accident, with permanent consequences.

After the accident, the brother claimed he was behind the wheel. But images taken with a cell phone from one of the occupants showed that his sister was driving the car.

Requirements

The Public Prosecutor (OM) had demanded 180 hours of community service, six weeks of suspended juvenile detention and two years of driving disqualification against the girl. The demand against her brother was 150 hours of community service, two months of suspended imprisonment and two years of disqualification from driving.

The defendant(s) in this case are assisted by: