A man who was involved in an accident last year that killed an 87-year-old woman has pleaded guilty.
“If her car hadn’t been there at that exact moment, nothing would have happened. I was simply driving too fast and misjudged.”
This is how a 23-year-old man explains himself on Monday in the Court in Svendborg, where he pleads guilty to all charges against him.
He is accused of driving head-on into an oncoming car in Gudme on Funen last November, killing an 87-year-old woman.
In connection with the accident, he is charged with, among other things, negligent homicide, drunk driving and driving without a license. In addition, he violated a medical driving ban due to epilepsy.
The accident happened on the evening of November 8th, when he lost control of his car while making a right turn. The car skidded and collided head-on with the woman’s car, which was coming in the opposite direction at the same time.
According to the defendant, he had been drinking beer with three friends earlier in the evening. When the accident occurred, they were on their way to park their car so they could continue on to a birthday party.
He admits to having driven too fast and that he misjudged the sharpness of the turn, even though he knew the road well and had driven there many times before.
“I just drove too fast into the curve. I went out like a light immediately and only woke up again when I was pulled out of the car. At that point I was very confused and had no idea what had happened,” he explained in court.
He says that one of his friends asked if the car ‘can’t do anything’, after which he pressed the accelerator pedal on the way down a hill to prove the opposite.
“I give it gas because I wanted to show it could do something. But I brake too late and don’t have time to slow down enough before I enter the corner,” he said.
He explains that the car had driven 600,000 kilometers, and that the brakes in the car had seen better days, even though they were considered to be in good condition.
It emerged in court that he had drunk at least five beers and that he had also been drinking in the car while they were driving.
In addition, he had neither a valid driver’s license nor a permit to drive a car due to a medical ban resulting from previous epileptic seizures.
The ban does not mean that it is illegal to drive, but that it is a doctor’s strongest recommendation not to do so.
It is the patient’s responsibility to follow the recommendation, and if the person drives anyway and causes danger or injury, it may be considered an aggravating circumstance in a criminal case.
The 23-year-old admits that he knew he was putting himself and others at risk by driving.
“I usually get some signs before I’m about to have a seizure, and then I pull over if it happens. If I have a seizure, I usually lose consciousness and wake up without knowing what happened in the meantime,” he said.
He also says in court that he was conscious when the accident occurred.
“I know I have done something unforgivable. It was never my intention for anyone to be harmed, and I deeply regret what has happened,” he said in court.
A verdict in the case is expected on Thursday.
ritzau
