Ghent, Belgium – A 45-year-old driver who ran over two cyclists in Ghent last year has been sentenced on appeal to six years in prison and handed a lifelong driving ban.
The ruling was delivered by the Ghent Criminal Court on Tuesday after prosecutors challenged the initial sentence, deeming it too lenient.
The tragic accident occurred on Sunday, 25 February 2024, around 11:00 a.m. on Pantserschipstraat.
The driver, who was intoxicated and speeding, collided with a group of five cyclists riding on the designated bike path. Two of the cyclists, both 45-year-old men from Lochristi, died from their injuries.
Following the crash, the driver recorded a blood alcohol level of 3 per mille and was arrested for unintentional manslaughter, unintentional assault, and driving without a valid licence.
Investigators determined that a combination of excessive speed and a steering error led to the fatal collision.
At the time of the accident, the driver was on a video call with his girlfriend and was travelling at 118 km/h in a residential zone.
In the initial trial, the police court sentenced the defendant to five years in prison, with 3.5 years to be served. However, prosecutors appealed the verdict, arguing that the punishment was insufficient given the gravity of the offences.
The appeal court ultimately increased the sentence to six years and imposed a €16,000 fine for the accident, along with an €8,000 fine for driving with a revoked licence.
The court found that the driver had a history of traffic violations, including five prior convictions, three of which were for driving under the influence.
His last driving ban, issued in 2014, required him to undergo medical and psychological evaluations before regaining his licence, but he failed to complete the necessary tests.
Despite not holding a valid licence for nearly a decade, he was able to register and insure a vehicle in his name.
During the trial, the defendant claimed to have no recollection of the accident and insisted that he had purchased the car for his girlfriend’s use.
His lawyer, Marc Schollier, argued for a reduced sentence, stating that his client had expressed remorse and vowed never to drive again.
However, the presiding judge dismissed the defendant’s claim of memory loss, noting that he was awake and engaged in a video call when the crash occurred.
“You did everything wrong except flee – but your car was wrecked,” the judge remarked, highlighting the defendant’s reckless actions.
The court ruled that the defendant posed a serious social risk due to his repeated offences and lack of insight into his alcohol problem. Judges concluded that probationary conditions would be ineffective as compliance was unlikely.
The ruling permanently bans the defendant from operating any motorised vehicle, citing his “problematic personality” and disregard for public safety.
The defendant’s only legal recourse now is to appeal to the Supreme Court, though such appeals are typically limited to procedural matters rather than sentence reduction.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
