Suspension of punishment for 78-year-old woman involved in a fatal accident Cycling promise Tijl De Decker (22) (Inland)
Cycling promise Tijl De Decker (right) died in August 2023 after an accident on training. Frédéric Thiebaut asked for a suspension of punishment for the driver of the car concerned. – © Geert Tresignie
The police judge in Mechelen made a statement on Thursday in the file around the death of cycling -promised Tijl De Decker. The then 22-year-old Lotto rider from Wommelgem rode in August 2023 on a car that came from a driveway and died a few days later. The court granted a suspension of punishment to the driver.
The accident happened on August 23, 2023. During a training ride, cycling promise Tijl De Decker turned into the Ravenstijn street in Lier. From there he wanted to cycle towards the Netekanaal. But just at that moment a now 78-year-old woman with her car came back from her driveway. She had not noticed the cyclist and a collision could no longer be avoided. De Decker was taken to the hospital, where he died a few days later from his injuries.
The tragic accident was treated last month by the police court in Mechelen. A brother and sister of De Decker were present there, but the family did not take any civil party. The sons of the driver were also there. They heard the Public Prosecution Service a fine of 4,000 euros and a year of driving on their mother, who could not be there for medical reasons. She was represented by her lawyer Frédéric Thiebaut, who asked for a suspension of punishment.
Tijl De Decker won Paris-Roubaix among the promises. – © Photopqr/Voix du Nord/Maxppp
Only losers
« This is a story with only losers, » said the counsel during the handling of the case. “My client does not dispute that she is to blame for the death of the young man. She has played the film in her head very often and thinks she could and should have seen him. Yet one question nibbles. Couldn't the cyclist have seen me? It is a hypothesis, but perhaps the cyclist has not been completely careful. ”
That was not followed by the police court. The judge is of the opinion that the time span between the moment at which the car drove the driveway and the accident was so short that a collision was inevitable. De Decker was too close to avoid the car. « The possible carelessness of the cyclist has not been proven in any way, » the judge said. « It is the driver who should have given priority and had to provide the cyclist. »
The possible carelessness of the cyclist has not been proven in any way
Police court Mechelen
What the court did respond to was to express a suspension of punishment. « The consequences of the accident are certainly dramatic, » it sounds. “The court is aware of the untold suffering of the family and friends of the cyclist, but the defendant is also very affected. In view of her medical situation and the fact that she has had her driver's license since 1969 without ever being convinced, we decide that a suspension is sufficient. ”
At the end of August 2023, Tijl De Decker (center) crashed after an accident on training. – © Photopqr/Voix du Nord/Maxppp
Professor
Tijl De Decker would have become a professional in 2024 for the then Lotto Dstny. In the months before his accident, he also achieved some excellent results for the team. He won a stage in the Tour of Taiwan and was the best in Paris-Roubaix for promises. Three days before the tragic accident, he also became fourth at the Belgian Championship for promises in Putte.
