Six people have been killed, and around seven others were left wounded in an accident in which a man drives a lorry into a large neighbourhood barbecue on the Zuidzijdsedijk near Rotterdam on the evening of Saturday.
A lorry drove off the Zuidzijdsedijk in Nieuw-Beijerland on Saturday evening at around 6:00 PM and went down on a slope onto a patch of land where a large neighbourhood barbecue was in progress. It has further hit several people in the process.
As per a statement released by the Dutch police on Saturday night, “There are several dead and several others injured. The probe is still in progress and the area has been cordoned off, and the lorry will be impounded later for investigation. The actual number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.”
The emergency services were quick to arrive, and several victims were immediately taken to a nearby hospital. The driver was also arrested on the spot and immediately transferred to a police station.
“It concerns a 46-year-old man from Spain. He has been captured and arrested for involvement in the incident and his role is being investigated. For the time being, we are trying to keep all scenarios about the circumstances open,” the police stated.
Victim support was called in for assistance while emergency accommodation was arranged for people attending the barbecue.
