Drunk driver ordered to pay bereaved family of cyclist from Diepenbeek nearly half a million euros
A 28-year-old man who killed a 56-year-old woman whilst driving under the influence in Diepenbeek must pay the bereaved 436,886 euros in damages.
Drunk driver ordered to pay bereaved family of cyclist from Diepenbeek nearly half a million euros
The traffic magistrate in Hasselt has ordered a 28-year-old man to pay substantial damages to the family of a cyclist who died. The victim, a 56-year-old woman from the region, was cycling to work at the university on 20 November 2024 when she was killed. Het Belang van Limburg reported on the case.
The young man had been out celebrating that night after becoming a father. He took his partner's car despite having previously been ordered to use an alcohol interlock device. Witnesses saw him swerving across the road. At around seven in the morning, he struck the cyclist on the Steenweg in Diepenbeek whilst overtaking a tractor with a trailer. The victim did not survive the impact. The driver did not stop, but was later arrested with nearly two per mille of alcohol in his blood.
Last year, the court sentenced him to five years imprisonment, a lifetime driving ban, and a fine of 4,000 euros. The civil damages settlement only took place at the beginning of this month.
The widower receives just over 165,000 euros. The victim's children receive approximately 58,000 and 45,000 euros respectively. Her parents and sisters also receive financial compensation. The driver's partner, who had just given birth to their baby son and ended the relationship immediately after the accident, is awarded 250 euros in damages. Her business receives just over 22,000 euros for the damaged vehicle. The insurance company receives more than 33,000 euros. The total amount comes to nearly half a million euros.
The magistrate emphasised that no sum of money can ease the grief of those left behind.
Source: Het Belang van Limburg