THE HAGUE, The Netherlands—The death toll after a truck crashed over a dike and smashed into a local barbecue in the village south of Rotterdam rose to six on Sunday, police said seven more were hospitalized, one of them. announced that he was in critical condition. .
Three men and three women, aged between 28 and 75, died, police said.
Police spokeswoman Mirjam Boers said a truck driver, a 46-year-old Spanish man, is suspected of causing the accident that took place in the village of Nieuw Beierland on Saturday evening.Dutch Privacy In accordance with law, his identity was not made public.
The lorry the man was driving left a small country road, went down the embankment of the embankment, and rammed into a village settlement. Boers said the driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
“We are investigating what happened,” Boers said.
In a tweet, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands said they were shocked by the accident, which they said had “brought unimaginable grief to this close-knit community.” Our hearts go out to the affected families, and we hope that the injured force recovers as soon as possible.
Forensic investigators worked Saturday night around the truck that stopped at the bottom of the embankment. It was then returned to the road by a crane and tow truck.
Photographs of the scene showed buntings hanging between trees and chairs scattered around a trestle table on which the plates remained.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte also offered his condolences in a tweet, saying: “My condolences to the victims and their close relatives of this horrific drama. I wish them strength.”
Local Mayor Charlie Aptrut visited the scene Saturday night.
“My condolences to the victims and their families, witnesses and first responders,” he said in a statement.
He added that he spoke to many people who were on the scene and said he was “appreciative of the way people are there for each other.”
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