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Posted on: April 30, 2009 2:18 PM, by Greg Laden
A car driven by a crazy person has careened through a crowd, killing four and wounding many, during an annual royal ceremony in the Netherlands.
Here is a particularly disturbing photo of the event. You are warned. The vehcile in this photograph is still moving to the right after having run over most of its victims including the girl you see in motion and the very damaged or deceased looking man.
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Comments
Terrible. Could the person have simply suffered a seizure further up the hill and careened helplessly into the crowd? The pre-existing damage on the car suggests that he may have already been out of control before reaching the crowd. Terrible for all concerned. Reminds me of the two people killed during the Holidazzle parade about ten years ago, I remember that van driving past us just a few blocks before the accident. Terrible.
Posted by: Albatross | April 30, 2009 2:43 PM
My understanding is that this is not pre-existing damage, bur rather, what happens to a car when you hit 12 people at 100 km/ph (his estimated speed). The man had lost his job and/or apartment and was known to be depressed or upset, so people are thinking it was a kind of attack/suicide. This is mostly speculation at this point. I'm sure confirmed details will be available soon enough.
Posted by: Greg Laden | April 30, 2009 2:51 PM
from the article:
Posted by: dreikin | April 30, 2009 3:13 PM
I'm amazed at the lack of blood. I realize there's probably been so little time between impact and the photo (given the military guy's oblivion and the shoes still airborne), but I was expecting them to be much more mangled than they appear to be.
Posted by: Jason Thibeault | April 30, 2009 3:32 PM
So, when do you go as crazy over people being allowed to own cars as you go over people being allowed to own guns?
Posted by: Tindal | April 30, 2009 5:39 PM
Some years ago, I spent time as an EMT. Most pedestrians injured by motor vehicles incur much more internal bleeding from contusions than external bleeding from lacerations. If the impact was hard enough, there's often abrasions from sliding along the pavement. We were taught that generally bodies tend to bounce up off the grill and land off to the side. The most blood I ever saw at a pedestrain/motorvehicle collision was from a scalp laceration the patient got after her head glanced off the corner of a bus bench.
Posted by: brainycat | April 30, 2009 5:42 PM
Tindal: You are a tasteless thoughtless fuck
Posted by: Andrew | April 30, 2009 8:23 PM
The guy driving the car has passed away this night (2:58 AM). This brings the total death toll at present at 5. 4 persons are still severely injured, 8 have escaped with minor injuries.
Posted by: Tom | May 1, 2009 6:17 AM
That is 2:58 AM Amsterdam time.
Posted by: Tom | May 1, 2009 6:27 AM