Viaduct ‘stone throwers’ held over woman’s death

19 January 2005

AMSTERDAM — Police have arrested four people in relation to the death of a female motorist killed after a paving stone was thrown from a roadway viaduct, smashing through the car windscreen and hitting her in the head.

All four suspects are adult men from Rijswijk. They will appear in court on Friday when a decision will be made whether their remand custody will be extended. Neither the motive nor the exact circumstances of the incident are known.

What is known is that the incident occurred last week as the 30-year-old woman, of Uden, was driving along the A4 motorway near Rijswijk. The woman suffered serious head injuries and died later in hospital.

A sack of rubbish had earlier been thrown from another viaduct, colliding with a truck, but the driver was not hurt in the incident. Police have refused to confirm whether the people arrested are also suspected of involvement in the second incident.

Transport Minister Karla Peijs has ordered her officials to identify which viaducts can be easily used to throw debris on to cars. Once the study is completed, she intends to improve security at the viaducts, a decision welcomed by Rijswijk Council — which has already intensified surveillance of viaducts in the area.

But the minister has also warned that not every viaduct in the Netherlands can be secured through the use of fences or nets. Nevertheless, she warned construction companies they would be fined if they did not adequately clean up work sites.

The Department of Waterways and Public Works has previously investigated measures to prevent debris and other objects being thrown from viaducts and bridges, but did not take any further action. The department maintains surveillance to ensure no loose objects are left behind by road works.

[Copyright Expatica News + Novum Nieuws 2005]

Subject: Dutch news