45-year-old man who drove the bridge in iron car, had drunk too much and lost a driver’s license (interior)

The traffic accident happened on Wednesday evening around 6.10 pm on the Brugsesteenweg on the Unie Bridge in Sint-Joris. The 45-year-old man came from Nieuwpoort and drove to Mannekenvere when he suddenly went through the railing on the bridge and ended up in the water of the IJzer with his Ford Mondeo. A firm dive, but luckily the car did not go over.

Read too. Man drives river from five meters high: « Fortunately his windows were open and he could escape »

« His great luck was that his side windows were open and he got out so quickly, » said his stepson who arrived. « As a result, he was only slightly injured, but was in shock. » Witnesses who saw the accident happen immediately called the emergency services. The fire brigade rushed on site with different divers, just like an ambulance and police zone west coast. Upon their arrival the man was already out of the car and he was helped up with a wet suit.

Driving license

How the accident could happen is unclear, but it is certain that the driver, a 45-year-old man from Ypres who is staying in Torhout, had drunk too much. « His driver’s license was immediately withdrawn by our services for the duration of 15 days as a result of alcohol in traffic, » reports the West Coast police zone. « The man was taken to the hospital with an ambulance. » In the meantime he was allowed to leave that again.

The man’s Ford Mondeo was towed, although that was certainly not an obvious job. Due to the fact that the man had drunk too much, the accident threatens to get a peppery tail. Not only must he possibly answer in the police court, the man can also be held responsible for the damage to the railing of the Unie Bridge. (JHM)